CHAPTER IX 



BOOT CROPS 



Carrot, 



Chervil, 



Turnip, 



Radish, 

 Beet, 



Parsnip, 

 Salsify, ■ 

 Scorzonera, 

 Scolymus, 

 Horse-radish. 



Rutabaga, 



Root crops require a cool season and deep soil. They 

 are grown in drills, and tisually are not transplanted. 

 They are used both as main-season and secondary crops. 

 All are hardy. Ko special skill is required in groiving 

 them. 



The necessity of deep soil is apparent when one con- 

 siders that the value of a root depends to a large extent 

 on its straightness or symmetry. In hard and shallow 

 soils roots are short and they tend to be branched and 

 irregular. Fine tilth does much to insure quick growth, 

 and quick growth improves the quality. Tile -draining 

 and subsoiling greatly improve land that is to be used 

 for root crops. The use of clover as a green manure is 

 also desirable, as it loosens and ameliorates the soil to a 

 greater depth than most other green -manure crops. 



Most root crops succeed best in cool soil. They 

 thrive in the North, or in the cool season in the 

 South. Those that do not require the entire season 



(271) 



