THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



171 



Carrot {Daucus oarota). French, Carotte ; Ger- 

 man, Mohrc; Spanish, Zanahoria; Italian, Oarota.— 

 As a native perennial plant, the Carrot is more hardy 

 than is generaDy surmised, for which reason crops 

 may he secured earlier each summer than is cus- 

 tomary. It stands apart, however, in regard to the 

 kind of soil which is alone suitable to it, as it will 

 succeed thoroughly in a deep, very free, sandy loam 

 only. For which reason certain districts in Bed- 

 fordshire and elsewhere have become noted for its 

 culture. 



In view of this the freest, most sandy portion of 

 vegetable grounds should be chosen wherein the 

 annual crop is to be grown. It should also he one 

 freely exposed to air and sunshine. "Where gardens 

 are naturally damp, and with adhesive tenacious soil, 

 those who appreciate the crop will do well to add 

 light, sandy materials as much as possible thereto 

 on every favourable opportunity. 



In the case of stiff soils, autumn trenching, or 

 turning up, is essential. Manure will always be best 

 placed six or eight inches deep, and it should consist 

 of such as is moderately decomposed. 



The earliest sowings, which should consist of the 

 Shoi-t Horn type, of which excellent varieties of 

 French origin exist, may always be made during 

 a mild period in the month of February, wherever a 

 warm sunny border exists. These are to be followed 

 by a general sowing, towards the end of the month 

 of March, or very early in April. "Well fork over 

 the previously dug and worked ground, breaking up 

 all lumps ; rake finely and leveL Make shallow 

 drill-rows fifteen inches apart, sowing the seeds 

 thinly therein. ,To insure this it is desirable to mix 

 a little dry sand or soil with them previously. 

 Lightly draw the rake across the rows to cover the 

 seeds in, drawing off at the same time all stones, 

 &c., which lie upon the surface. 



So soon as the young plants are well up and dis- 

 cernible, hoe carefully up and down the rows 

 between them. "When large enough thin the young 

 plants out to six or eight inches apart in the rows. 



It is excellent practice to sow a few rows of the 

 Short Horn variety besides the main crop, at the same 

 time. The drill-rows need not be more than ten 

 inches apart, and the young crop may be used con- 

 tinuously after it has become large enough, in process 

 of thinning, until the time arrives when such as 

 remain can be " drawn," and stored away with the 

 others. 



The sorts which are most esteemed at this date 

 are Intermediate and Long Eed. As young crops 

 are always greatly appreciated, other sowings of 

 Short Horn maj' also be made about August 1st and 

 October 1st for drawing no soon as large enough. At 

 the approach of winter the crop is carefully dug up, 



each root having its crown neatly cut off, and the. 

 custom is to store them neatly in a stack, heads out- 

 ward, filling in the spaces between, and covering aU. 

 over, with sand, &c. A better plan, in view of keep- 

 ing them fresh and succulent, is to clamp them out 

 of doors in a similar manner to that which is fol- 

 lowed with Potatoes. 



Short Horn varieties are very easily forced in 

 frames, and are especially early, sweet, and edible 

 when grown over a heap of fermenting material, 

 upon which a nice depth of free soil has been placed) 

 covered over with a frame, and attended to in the 

 matter of air-giving, watering, &c. As the crop and 

 season advance, the lights may be entirely removed 

 for use elsewhere. 



The best varieties are Early Nantes and French 

 Forcing (Short Horn), Button's New Intermediate, 

 James's Intermediate Scarlet, and Long Eed Surrey,, 

 for main crops. 



Cauliflo'wer (Brassica oleraeea, var. boirytis). 

 French, Chmtfleur ; German, Blumenhhol ; Italian, 

 Cmoli fiori ; Spanish, Coliflor. — "Where the several 

 members of the Brassica family previously referred 

 to will succeed, there also will the Cauliflower grow ; 

 though, owing to its superior merits, it is deserving- 

 of far more attention, and amply repays every ad- 

 ditional outlay of labour' and manure expended upon 

 it. A deep sandy loam, highly enriched with 

 manure, gives the best possible results. It is- 

 treated both as a biennial and annual. 



Seeds are sown during the first and third weeks, in 

 August, and the j'oung seedling plants resulting 

 therefrom grown on in the seed-bed if, owing to dry 

 weather, they have not made any great advance ; or 

 transplanted singly into nursery beds, when a damp 

 growing period ensues, in view of checking too 

 great a growth, until the approach of winter, when 

 they are transplanted thence into cold frames, having 

 the bed of soil made up to within six or nine inches 

 of the glass ; or into hand and bell-glasses, from five 

 to eight plants under each ; where, aided by abundant 

 air-giving during all mild periods, they are kept 

 hardy and strong, in view of withstanding the 

 severest frosts, and retaining robustness for early 

 spring growth and flowering. During the month of 

 April subsequently the plants in the beU-glasses are 

 thinned out, and, along with those wintered in the 

 cold frame, are planted out on to an eligible piece of 

 ground, there also to grow and bloom. Meantime, 

 from three to five plants are selected as the strongest 

 to remain under the hand-glasses, receiving air as 

 needful and manure-water occasionally. These 

 head in for use towards the end of May, and usefully 

 precede those planted out. The variety used for 

 this purpose is one long known as Early London. 



