28G 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



grown several years successively on the same 

 land ? As to the first inquiry, we had sup- 

 posed that deep stirring of the land, say from 

 9 to 12 inches at least, would be beneficial to 

 the crop of carrots. It had not occurred to 

 think otherwise, until We had heard a practical 

 man who has grown as fine crops as we have 

 ever seen, (more than 1200 bushels of 50 

 pounds each, to the acre,) say, that he used 

 only a single horse in plowing his land for car- 

 rots ; — and rarely plowed more than 5 or G 

 inches deep. We asked him why he plowed 

 this depth ? and he said he would not thank 

 any one to plow any deeper than this. In fact, he 

 knew this depth would yield a better crop than 

 if the land was plowed deeper. He then rela- 

 ted his experience in this manner. 



One season he had engaged his neighbor to 

 come with his oxen to aid in plowing his carrot 

 field. By reason of some delay, only about two 

 thirds of the field was turned, before night 

 came on ; and he turned the remainder next 

 morning, with the horse alone, without the 

 oxen. The entire field was manured alike and 

 treated alike, in all other respects ; and the 

 part plowed with the horse alone produced 

 larger carrots, and a heavier crop than the 

 other part of the field. Ever since he has 

 used only his horse in preparing land for car- 

 rots, and usually plants from a half to two 

 acres. He is not a man who boasts of what he 

 does, or who is fond of having his name appear 

 in papers. He is a man who understands very 

 well what he is about — and what he says can 

 be relied on. 



As to the second inquiry, I know no definite 

 facts bearing upon it, but have heard opinions 

 very different, from those equally well experi- 

 enced. Whether there is actually anything 

 peculiar in relation to crops of carrots follow- 

 ing each other can only be answered by those 

 who have been observant of facts. If my re- 

 collection is right, the cultivators of Worcester 

 county have maintained that they grow abun- 

 dantly five years or more successively on 

 the same land. In Essex, the opinion pre- 

 vails, that it is not well to attempt to grow 

 them more than two years in succession. If 

 you or your correspondents can throw light on 

 these inquiries, they will do a good service to 

 the farmers of the community. 



Remarks. — It is minute, special inquiries, in 

 regard to crops, that lead to beneficial results. 

 Our correspondent is one of the mOst untiring 

 and critical observers, and has done good ser- 

 vice to the cause by this habit. Theory and 

 practice have generally been united. It is cer- 

 tainly unusual to hear one advocate shallow 

 plowing for this crop ; the theory, however, 

 may be a correct one, — we cannot, positively, 

 gainsay it. The common practice is against it. 



We have cultivated carrots on the same piece 

 of land four years in succession, with a gradu- 

 al increase of crop. Is not this the correct 



course ? Manure highly, with manure as free 

 as possible from all seeds, cultivate thoroughly, 

 so as to utterly exclude all weeds, and then 

 occupy the same land for the carrot crop from 

 year to year. The main cost of the carrot is 

 not incurred in plowing, manuring or seeding, 

 but in weeding ; this is a slow, tedious and ex- 

 pensive prpcess, — one which the farmer who is 

 accustomed to active habits cannot endure, and 

 which deters thousands from engaging in it. 



JSFew England Farmer. 



We will add to the foregoing, that we saw 

 rich land which was deeply subsoiled for car- 

 rots, and the crop treated in the best manner, 

 that produced, in our mind, a very unprofitable 

 «rop. The carrots were from 14 to 22 inches 

 in length, but very thin and weighed very 

 lightly. We also saw the same season, a crop, 

 the ground on which it was planted was not 

 subsoiled, and plowed only the usual depth for 

 a root crop, which yielded a much greater 

 amount in weight, though the carrots were 

 scarcely more than half as long. The roots 

 penetrated the hard ground, then spread, and 

 the carrot thickened. The labor of digging 

 also was not more than half as much as the sub- 

 soiled crop. — [Ed. Tel. 



Cultivation of Cucumbers. 



" Last spring a friend of mine and myself 

 were planting cucumbers at the same time. . i 

 was planting mine, as is usual in gardens, by 

 mixing a small portion of stable manure with 

 the earth, and raising the hill an inch or two 

 above the surface of the ground. Observing it, 

 he jocosely remarked, ' Let me show you how 

 to raise cucumbers/ Never having much luck 

 in raising them, I cheerfully agreed to his pro- 

 position. He commenced by making holes in 

 the earth, at the distance intended for the hills, 

 that would hold about a peck — he then 

 filled them with dry leached ashes, cover- 

 ing the ashes with a very small quantity 

 of earth. The seeds were then planted on a 

 level with the surface of the ground. I was 

 willing to see the experiment tried, but had no 

 expectation of anything but a loss of seed, 

 labor and soil. But imagine my astonishment, 

 (notwithstanding a drier season was never 

 known, and almost a universal failure of gar- 

 den vegetables,) when I beheld vines remarka- 

 bly thrifty, and as fine a crop of cucumbers as 

 any one could wish to raise, and they continu- 

 ed to bear for an unusually long time. I will 

 not philosophize on the subject — but say to all, 

 try it ; and instead of throwing your ashes 

 away, apply it where it 'will be of use, and you 

 will reap a rich reward". — Ohio Farmer. 



Millet. 



Millet is an excellent substitute for the ordi- 

 nary meadow hay. It is perfectly adapted to a 

 Northern climate, and succeeds equally well at 



