CARROTS AND PARSNIPS 97 



inches they should be thinned out so that they 

 stand an inch apart, or a little less, and the ground 

 about them should be worked over carefully with 

 a trowel, to keep it soft and free from weeds. About 

 this time it is advisable to scatter a pound or two of 

 fertilizer along the row, to keep the growth steady. 

 As soon as the plants begin to touch each other, the 

 larger ones may be pulled for table use. Keep 

 thinning in this manner during the summer, and 

 you will find that the row is practically full when 

 the time comes for fall digging. 



As cold weather approaches, dig out the carrots 

 with the spading fork, working at right angles to 

 the row to avoid bruising the roots. Put them down 

 cellar, in the coolest part, and cover them with light, 

 sandy loam. 



Hostile Worms. — Cutworms sometimes deal havoc 

 in rows of carrots. They are especially active if 

 the weather is hot and dry. If they appear in force, 

 use the cutworm bait, made from bran and arsenate 

 of lead. A brilliant worm in yellow and black 

 appears on the carrot tops in summer. The worst 

 thing about it is the smell, as it does not hurt the 

 crop much under ordinary conditions. Do not 

 catch it in the bare hands, however, as it gives off a 

 brown fluid that smells for a week. Knock it off 

 with a stick and step on it. 



