l76 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



of the ground. The crop is sometimes sown in rows two feet 

 apart and cultivated with a horse implement. If the seed is good, 

 two pounds per acre, or about fourteen seeds to the foot of row, 

 is plenty to sow. Very thick seeding is not desirable, as the cost 

 of thinning in such a case is considerable. It is best for the 

 experienced grower to have all the conditions just right and 

 then to sow the seed so that little, if any, thinning will be neces- 

 sary. However, the beginner will very likely find it safest to sow 

 a large amount of seed, perhaps three pounds per acre, and thin 

 out so that the plants will stand three inches apart in the row. 

 The richer the soil the more room the roots require in the row; 

 if small roots are wanted they may be left an inch apart in the 

 row. 



Gathering. — One of the greatest outlays in raising carrots 

 is in gathering and topping the crop. The topping may be done 



Figure 88. — Harvestingr long- carrots and parsnips by plowing- the eartn away on 

 one side, and then puUing the roots by hand. 



by hand, after being plowed out, but hand labor is very costly. 

 Some growers go over the rows and cut the. tops off with a sharp 

 hand hoe. If the tops of the roots are cut off a little no harm is 

 done, as it does not increase the liability to rot as is the case 

 with beets. The roots are, perhaps, most easily dug by plowing 

 close to each row and then pulling them out by hand. For this 

 purpose a subsoil plow is best, but any good plow will answer 

 the purpose fairly well. If a short rooted variety is grown and 



