—and indeed all other fruit-bearing plants—is allowed to produce, 
should be limited, if superior size and quality are desired. 
The roots of the carrot and turnip and the bulb of the onion are stores 
of organizable matter, formed one season and destined for the support of 
blossoms and seed in the season following. Here we have again familiar 
instances of the use and functions of leaves. If we sow carrots or tur¬ 
nips in drills and allow the plants to remain crowded, we have small and 
worthless roots, compared with those produced by plants which stand at 
such a distance apart as that the foliage of one plant does not interfere 
with that of another. 
Varieties of the potato differ in the height of their stems, and the dis¬ 
tance between the rows or hills in which they are planted should corres¬ 
pond with the average height of the variety cultivated. The whole of the 
ground would then be covered with foliage during the heat of summer, 
without one plant interfering with the functions of another. Layer tu¬ 
bers may be obtained by allowing more room, but it has been proved 
experimentally, in the garden of the Horticultural Society of London, 
that the greatest average weight of tubers per acre is obtained when the 
distance between the rows corresponds with the average length of the 
stem. The greatest length of the stems of the variety cultivated was 
two feet, the principal part attained this height; the shortest stems meas¬ 
ured eighteen inches. The following are the results of the experiment: 
Distance between 
rows. 
Weight of Seed 
required per 
Acre. 
Estimated Produce per 
Acre, deducting the 
weight planted. 
Ft. 
In. 
lbs. 
Tons. 
Civts. 
lbs. 
2 
6 
setts planted with single eyes. 
1,470 
15 
19 
82 
2 
0 
y y 
1,794 
24 
0 
87 
1 
6 
y y 
2,055 
22 
16 
102 
0 
6 
yy 
5,008 
16 
17 
10 
“ The most uniform size was obtained from the division where the rows 
were two feet apart. Where the rows were only six inches apart, a 
number of new potatoes were partially decayed, and a very large propor¬ 
tion was too small to be lit for use.” 
Some writers on farming have hastily concluded that the carrot having 
such light feathery foliage, derives its nourishment chiefly from the soil. 
