220 VEGETABLE FOES AND DISEASES 



the loose open nature of the soil consequent on the thin- 

 ning. If Carrots require thinning it should be done 

 when an inch or two high. 3. The ground intended 

 for Carrots should not be that occupied in the previous 

 year by them, or even by an umbelliferous crop, and 

 though the ground should be in good heart from 

 manuring for a preceding crop, it is not advisable to 

 apply manure specially for the Carrots, but trenching 

 and, if need be, applying the manure in the autumn, 

 keeping it a foot or fifteen inches from the surface. 

 If kept in the top spit, the manure must be well rotted 

 and applied in the previous autumn. 



Dressings to avoid attack are : i. Roughly dig 

 the ground intended for the Carrot crop at the be- 

 ginning of winter and apply gas lime, at the rate of 

 two and a half to five tons per acre, thirty-five to 

 seventy Ib. per rod, and leave on the ground till late 

 winter or early in spring and then dig in with a fork 

 about four inches deep or apply the gas lime early in 

 spring, but only the lesser amount ; leave on the 

 surface a month or six weeks and then dig in in time 

 to secure a good tilth or fine surface mould. 



2. Apply a dressing of wood ashes half an inch 

 thick all over the ground and dig in a spit deep, 

 making the surface level and fine, dusting a peck of 

 soot per rod on the surface. The ground is then 

 ready for the seed. 



3. Broadcast kainit on the land in spring a short 

 time in advance of sowing, say in February or March, 

 at the rate of two and a half to five cwt. per acre, one 



