352 GATHERING, STORING AND PACKING 



ROOTS. 



Under this heading Carrots occupy a leading place 

 being always in season. In private gardens where the 

 land is suitable it is much better to have young Carrots 

 direct from the soil and to do this three or four sow- 

 ings are required. The roots are not so susceptible to 

 weather influences as many suppose, but there are other 

 difficulties. When left too long before lifting the 

 roots are attacked by grub in some soils and quickly 

 decay. It is therefore necessary to lift and store in 

 early autumn. Give them as cool a store as possible 

 and use plenty of soil, sand or fine ashes between 

 the roots. Large, coarse, split or grub-eaten roots 

 should not be stored. The tops should be cut within 

 two inches of the crown and no washing allowed till 

 taken from the store. They are sold in bags or by 

 weight but the best prices are obtained in spring from 

 roots that have wintered in their growing quarters. 

 These are lifted, washed with tops intact, and only 

 broken or yellow leaves removed, and tied in dozens or 

 less. These as regards quality are preferable to stored 

 roots. Early in the season young roots are bunched 

 and sold in the same way. 



PARSNIPS 



Are best when sent to table freshly lifted from the 

 soil. Of course this is not possible with market 

 supplies but here a middle course can be adopted. In 



