Chap. XXIX.] SOME VEGETABLES OF THE PARIS MARKET. 495 



ground is then raked lightly, and watered whenever it is neces- 

 sary. As soon as the young plants make their appearance, the 

 crop is carefully thinned out. Three months after the sowing, 

 the more forward Carrots may be gathered, the results of the 

 later sowings being left until November. 



Mr. Cornhill writes to the ' Garden ' : " I should like to see the 

 French Early Horn Carrot more extensively grown than it appears 

 to be. I would especially recommend a trial of it to the owners 

 of small gardens. I venture to assert that those who have 

 habituated themselves to a supply of this root during the spring 

 and summer months will not easily make up their minds to forego 

 the luxury. In all French kitchens this little Carrot is almost 

 indispensable, and this is not to be wondered at, for both its 

 appearance and flavour are good. The first crop, where it is 

 possible, should be sown on a moderate hotbed in January, taking 

 care that the soil employed is tolerably rich and well sweetened — 

 the best material I have found for this purpose is the clearings of 

 old hotbeds which have been turned over and over for several 

 years, and have become reduced to the consistency of mould. 

 Where a supply of this does not exist, any kind of free well- worked 

 soil may be taken. When the seed is up, thin out to about four 

 inches, and care must afterwards be taken to admit plenty of air 

 on all favourable occasions, so as to prevent drawing and to cover 

 up in cold weather. The first sowing in the open ground should 

 be made about the middle of February, choosing a well-sheltered 

 and rather dry spot. Thoroughly break and pulverise the soil, 

 which should be fairly rich ; it is well to fork-in a good dressing 

 of soot and lime, which give substance to the tops and will free 

 them in a great measure from the ravages of grubs. The seed 

 may either be sown in a four-feet bed or in drills ; if the latter 

 be preferred they should be drawn with a good broad hoe, making 

 them as wide as possible. It is advisable to sow the seed mode- 

 rately thick to ensure a plant, thinning very early. By leaving 

 them thus they may be drawn as soon as the flavour is well 

 defined. By thinning out methodically and regularly over the 

 whole bed in this manner, a small piece of ground will yield a 

 continuous supply ; in fact, it is surprising what a quantity can 

 be grown on the space ; by leaving them rather thick they can be 

 pulled early, which forwards the season, and as the crop advances 



