LONG RED SURREY 451 



to promote vigorous growth of the carrot and the plants are liable 

 to be smothered by annual weeds if germination and active 

 growth is delayed. 



The amount of good, new, well-cleaned seed necessary for one 

 acre is 4 or 5 lbs. 



Yield. — The average yield varies from 10 to 20 tons per acre 

 according to the variety grown. 



The White Belgian variety occasionally gives a crop of 3c 

 tons per acre. 



Composition. — In a wild state the carrot stores up starch in its 

 ' roots,' the cultivated forms however rarely or never store this 

 carbohydrate in them, its place being taken by sugar. 



The amount of water in White Belgian carrots is on an average 

 about 88 per cent; the red varieties contain from 86 to 87 per 

 cent. The soluble carbohydrates, of which the greatest propor- 

 tion is sugar, averages g'2 per cent., the nitrogenous substances 

 generally reach i'2 per cent, of which a little more than half are 

 albuminoids. The ' fibre ' is rather high, namely i'3 per cent. 



With the exception of parsnips and potatoes, red carrots con- 

 tain more nutritious dry matter per ton than any other root crop 

 ordinarily grown as food for stock : the leaves or ' tops ' are 

 excellent, as well as the ' roots.' 



Ex. 229. — Examine the commercial ' seeds ' of the carrot. Note the 

 secondary ridges of spines. How many ridges are there on each ? Cut thin 

 transverse sections of the mericarp and examine them for the vittas. 



Note the odour when the 'seeds' are rubbed in the hands. 



Ex. 230. — Raise carrot seedlings in damp sand or sandy soil, and note the 

 length and shape of the cotyledons, hypocotyl, and primary root. Observe 

 the amount of hypocotyl above ground in a bed of seedling carrots in the 

 garden and watch the withdrawal of the hypocotyl into the ground as the 

 plants increase in age. 



Ex. 231. — Carefully dig up a half-grown carrot, taking care to, go deep 

 enough to obtain the fine extension of the tap root, and also the secondary 

 roots. Wash away the earth carefully and examine the extent, thickness, 

 and position of the lateral roots. 



