Of Carrots, targ<» «nd fair roots of the deepest yellow colour, 

 bkod with the smallest tops in proportion to the size of the roots, 

 are to be preferred. 



With regard to the Ruta Baga, Mr. Cobbett says it is apt to 

 degenerate^ if the seed be not saved with care. '•^ We in Engl iid 

 (says he) examine well to find out those that run least into neck 

 and green. We reject all such as approach at all towards a zvhit' 

 ish coloiiT, or which are even of a greenish colour towards the 

 neck, which there oug-ht to be a little of a reddish cast.''^ 



Varieties of plants of the same kind (the difterent sorts of cab- 

 bages, for instance, or of Indian corn) if growing near together 

 and bearing seed, will impart to one another their respective 

 peculiarities ; and injuriously, whenever it is desired to preserve 

 their distinct qualities unmixed, and to prevent an inferior en-- 

 gendering with one of superior quality ; the impregnating dust 

 of the flowers of plants, falling on the flowers of other plants of 

 the same kind, producing effects similar to the crossing of ani- 

 mals of the same kind but of diflferent breeds. In a word, the 

 sexual system exists in plants as well as among animals ; only io 

 plants the male and female are generally united in the same 

 plant ; as in Indian corn, the male impregnating dust (the farina) 

 is in the tassel or flower, at the top: the ear is the female, and 

 from every cell of the future grain proceeds a thread, which to« 

 gether constitute what is -called the silk, on which the farina 

 falling, causes the cells to fill, and become, when ripe, kernels 

 of corn. In most fruits, as the apple and pear, the male and fe- 

 male are in the same flower. But in hemp, some of the plants 

 are exclusively male, and others exclusively female. 



The Ruta Baga, therefore, when set out for bearing seed, 

 should be placed at a distance from every other seed-plant of 

 the Turnip or Cabbage kind. So likewise the Mangel Wurtzel^ 

 intended to bear seed, should not be set near any other seed-beet 

 plants". It may not be amiss to add, that for the same reasons, 

 pumpkins, squashes, melons, cucumbers, in all their varieties, 

 in order to preserve them in purity, should be planted at some 

 distance from each other. 



Pumpkins, as food for domestic animals, seem closely connec-r 

 t-ed with the roots before mentioned. Every farmer kno^ve 



