March 28, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
219 
- The Cultivation of Garrots. - 
How to Get Large and Shapely Roots. 
Carrots usually succeed best in light 
11s, the long varieties also requiring a 
od depth ot soil, which must be deeply 
g or bastard trenched and thoroughly 
rred and pulverised, as long, shapely 
jots cannot* be produced if growth en- 
unters hard clods of earth and hard un- 
ig ground. Light ground that has been 
11 manured for a former crop is ex- 
lent for Carrots, a lot of fresh farm- 
rd manure or any animal manure 
rked into the ground only a few 
ches below the surface causing the roots 
be short, forked and crooked as shown 
Fig. 1 of the accompanying sketches, 
lallow digging also has a like effect. If 
anure has to" be applied, it should be 
ig as deeply as possible into the ground 
allow the roots plenty of room-for 
■wnward growth as shown in Fig. 2. 
The ground for Carrots should, as far 
possible, be roughly prepared in the 
ituiiin or early winter, and as a pre- 
ntive against attacks of the Carrot 
maggot a good sprinkling of soot should 
be incorporated with the soil. The first 
sowing of Carrots, good early varieties 
being Early Horn and Nantes Horn, may 
be made at the beginning of March on a 
warm border facing south. From the end 
of March to the second week in April, ac¬ 
cording to the situation and state of the 
weather, is the best time to sow the main 
crop. Select a dry day for sowing the 
seed, make the surface of the bed fairly 
firm, and draw drills twelve inches apart 
and about one inch deep. Sow the seed 
thinly, scatter some fine wood ashes over 
it, and fill in the drills, making the sur¬ 
face level and even. 
Carrot seeds are very liable to stick to¬ 
gether and to facilitate sowing and ensure 
a more even distribution, it is a common 
practice to mix the seed with sand. After 
the plants show through the soil, the space 
between the rows should be frequently 
stirred with the hoe, as not only does this 
keep down weeds, but it also assists the 
growth of the crop. As soon as the plants 
are large enough to handle they should 
be thinned out from five to eight inches 
apart, according to the variety, showery 
weather being selected for this work, if 
possible. Early thinning is desirable in 
every case, as it greatly assists in the pro¬ 
duction of large and shapely roots (see 
Fig. 3), delay in this important detail 
often resulting in the production of thin, 
ill-formed roots, similar to Fig. 4. Car¬ 
rots should not be left in the ground after 
the end of October, but be lifted and 
stored in a frost-proof cellar or shed. 
Ortus. 
Colonial Fruit Show. 
The Royal Horticultural Society has 
done much in recent years to assist the 
fruit-growing interests of British Colonies 
by holding three annual exhibitions of 
Colonial-grown fruit and vegetables, fresh 
and preserved. The first of these shows 
for the present year was held on March 
5th and 6th, when Sir Somerset French, 
K.C.M.G., the newly-appointed Agent- 
General for Cape Colony, presided at the 
opening ceremony. The Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Hall, where the show was held, was 
veiy effectively arranged, and the fruits 
were tastefully set out, South African ex¬ 
hibits occupying half of the hall. The 
exhibits included Peaches, Pears and 
Plums, of several varieties. Grapes were 
of better quality than last year. Cape 
Melons, which were shown, have this year 
reached Covent Garden before the French 
Melons. A very fine collection of Apples 
was exhibited by the Nova Scotia Govern¬ 
ment ; there were also Apples from South 
Australia, Oranges from Cyprus, and 
Oranges, Mangos and Green Ginger from 
Jamaica. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, President of the 
R.H.S., pointed out that these shows, so 
far from adding to the financial resources 
of the society, cost that body not les? than 
£200 a year, but they were anxious that 
advantage should be taken of them, and 
that their merit and value should be ap¬ 
preciated. “ We have been,” added Sir 
Trevor, “very much disappointed with 
regard to several exhibits which were ex¬ 
pected. The fruit and the other Colonial 
products which we hoped tc have had 
here to-day have arrived in London, but 
they have not been able to get down here, 
and I am told there is one important con¬ 
signment which has been unpacked and 
photographed, and which has myste¬ 
riously disappeared for a time.” Sir 
Trevor Lawrence said that the society 
wished that Sir Somerset French should 
have one of the medals of the society, not 
only in recognition of his kind contribu¬ 
tion of drawings of Cape scenery which 
adorned the walls of the hall, but also on 
account of the great trouble and labour 
that he had taken in organising the ex¬ 
hibition. Sir Trevor then presented the 
medal to Sir Somerset French, who, in 
accepting it, made a very interesting 
speech and gave expression on behalf of 
the Colonies of the very great apprecia¬ 
tion of the public spirit which had 
prompted the organisation of these most 
important exhibitions, which he said 
could not fail to be most beneficial in 
bringing together the consumer and pro¬ 
ducer. 
Growing: Carrots. 
✓ 
1, The wrong way to dig and manure ground for Carrots, and the result; 
>, The right way, and the result; 3, Carrots thinned oui at an early stage; 4, the resv.lt- 
of improper thinning. 
