226 



Introduction of Carrot. 



in Northern India contains some information respecting the 

 introduction of the carrot into England. It seems that this 

 vegetable was not introduced into this country before 15 lo. 

 It came from Flanders, and was first extensively cultivated 

 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth by some Flemings at 

 Sandwich, where the soil is exceedingly favourable to the 

 growth of the long tap root of the plant. It became 

 generally known during the reign of James I., and was held 

 in high esteem; Parkinson, the author of Theatrimi BotanicuMy 

 1640, and Paradisus Terrestris^ 1656, mentions the fashion 

 of the ladies of his day using its elegant fern-like fronds as 

 feathers for their head-dresses. On the outbreak of the 

 " Great Rebellion," agriculture in England relapsed, for 

 about fifty years [1642-17 13], into alm.ost the same primitive 

 condition in which it had lain all through the " Wars of the 

 Roses " [1455-1485] ; but it again began to revive after the 

 defeat of Monmouth and the establishment of peace in 

 Central and Western Europe by the Treaty of Utrecht ; and 

 subsequently to the establishment of the Hanoverian 

 dynasty, the cultivation of the carrot was rapidly extended 

 throughout the country, developing in Surrey in the " Long 

 Red " or " Long Surrey," and in Cheshire the 

 " Altringham," another red variety, which is known as the 

 " orange cattle carrot." These denominations still maintain 

 their ground. The other principal varieties of carrots culti- 

 vated in the United Kingdom are of foreign development,, 

 as the " Short Red " or " Early Horn " of Holland, the 

 " Large White " and " Yellow " of Belgium, and the " White 

 Horn," or Carotte des Vosges. 



In this country the cultivation of the carrot was wonder- 

 fully stimulated by the practice of the Society of Arts in the 

 past century, and in the earlier years of the present century, 

 of awarding small prizes for all kinds of agricultural experi- 

 ments and improvements. They began giving prizes for 

 carrots apparently very early in the eighteenth century. 

 In 1764 they awarded a prize of £^20 to Mr. Robert Billing, 

 of Wesenham All Saints, Norfolk, for growling at one time 

 thirty acres and two roods of carrots; and again, in 1765,. 

 £20 for growing 24 J acres of carrots. Mr. Billing reported 



