422 
The Puvis Cardoon is remarkable for its strong 
growth, the large size it attains, and the thick- 
ness of its ribs, which are almost solid. The 
leaves are thick, not prickly, or only very 
slightly so. It is a fine variety, of more tender 
substance than the Cardon de Tours. 
Carrot (Daucus Carota).—A hardy biennial, 
native of Asia, Africa, and Europe, including 
Britain, where it is found wild very commonly 
by roadsides and on dry banks, especially near 
the sea. 
The roots of the wild Carrot are small, hard, 
and frequently much forked; but that it is the 
parent of our cultivated varieties has been proved 
by M. Vilmorin, who succeeded in obtaining, 
in three generations, roots of considerable size. 
Some of the roots so obtained were as large as 
garden Carrots of the largest size, and their | 
about 3 inches in diameter, and filled with pre- 
appearance was exactly the same; the flesh, 
however, was more compact and the flavour 
milder. By most of the persons who tasted 
them they were considered to be superior to the 
old varieties. 
Soil.—A deep sandy loam is best for Carrots; 
sandy alluvial soil, properly drained, will suit 
them, and heavy crops have been obtained on 
peat. It is essential that the soil should be of 
a soft pervious nature, to permit the tap-root to 
descend perpendicularly, which it will some- 
times do to the depth of 3, 4, or even 5 feet 
under favourable circumstances. Cold stiff clay 
soils, and others that are too compact, should be 
avoided, for in such the tap-root cannot pene- 
trate in its natural direction, and the Carrots 
become forked, as will likewise be the case in 
stony land. The Short Horn varieties may be 
grown on rather thin soil; but the long-rooted 
sorts ought to have a depth of 1 or 2 feet. 
Manures.—Lime, potash, soda, and chloride 
of sodium may be applied with advantage as 
manures. Farmyard manure laid on the sur- 
face and dug in is apt to make the roots fork. 
The best way of applying it is to trench the 
ground, and, in so doing, to let the manure be 
placed not nearer the surface than 18 inches. 
In this way even fresh stable manure may be 
applied. Carrots are, however, generally sown 
without manure in soil that has been well 
manured for the preceding crop. 
Preparation of the Ground.—The ground, if 
not trenched, should be double dug and thor- 
oughly worked, so that it may be of uniform 
consistence, and not richer at the surface than 
lower down. The tap-root will then strike down 
quite perpendicularly, but if the soil is rich near 
_middle of March and the middle of April. 
THE GARDENERS ASSISTANT. 
the top, and hard or poor below, the root will 
be apt to fork. Short-rooted varieties, however, 
may be grown in a depth of about 6 inches of 
good or prepared compost, laid on the top of a 
soil of inferior quality. Frequently none of the 
soil of a garden is of the best description for 
the production of Carrots. It may be too heavy; 
if so, it probably can be mixed with a large 
quantity of sand, or sand and mud, the latter 
being of a light nature when dry; or clay and 
heavy soil may be burned and incorporated 
with the mass, and if sand can be added so 
much the better. Peat may also be employed 
in lightening the soil. 
It is always best to trench and ridge up the 
ground before winter, taking the opportunity 
of dry weather in spring to break down the 
ridges and pulverize the soil. Or holes 18 
inches deep may be made with a large dibber, 
pared sandy compost. A few seeds may then 
be sown in each of the holes, and when the 
young plants come up, only the best one should 
be allowed to remain. Fine large Carrots have 
been produced by this mode where the soil was 
unfavourable to their growth. 
Sowings. — Near Paris the first sowing of 
Early Horn is made in September, in the open 
ground, covering with litter in frosty weather; 
and from this sowing Carrots are obtained fit 
for use in May. There is no reason why this 
plan should not prove successful in this country, 
for the frosts are generally more severe in winter 
near Paris than near London. A small quantity 
of Early Horn should be sown on a warm 
border in January, or in the first week of 
February. Another sowing of the same sort, 
together with some of Long Horn, may be 
made in the last week of that month, or. in 
the first week of March. The main crop of 
Long Horn, Altrincham, and other large sorts 
for winter use should be sown between the 
If 
the weather and state of the ground be favour- 
able, the earlier period will be proper in the 
northern parts of the kingdom. In warm soils, 
in the southern part, the middle of April will 
be early enough for the main crop. Small suc- 
cessional sowings of the Horn kinds may be 
made in June and July; and, finally, in the 
first or second week in August, a sowing of 
Early Horn for spring use may be made in a 
situation where some protection can be conve- 
niently given during severe weather. 
Carrots are either sown broadcast on beds, 
usually about 4 feet wide, or in drills; the latter 
