The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-04-06
SEED TIME AND ITS LAB0Rs.

CARROTS. We do not know OF any other
root crop that appears to be so we'll adapted
10 our climate and circumstances as carrots.
Doubtless the common turnip, so extensive
ly grown in Great Britain, draws less on the
soil than carrots; and, where climate is
suitable, affords better means Of enriching
farm. For this reason, We would do all
in our power to extend the cultivation OF
turrips, Iuta bagas, &C., but, at the same
time, we must admit that they do not ap.
pear to be so we'll adapted TO this climate
as the carrot and they are certainly infe-
rior in nutritive quality. Carrots require
much more labor in wedding, and must DO
sown earlier and at n buster season than
the turnips and ruta bagas. Nevertheless,
carrots are an exceedingly valuable root
crop, and no farmer should be without q
considerable plo. Of them. As g condiment
for horses, there is nothing equal 10 them,
and while we cannot agree with those who
consider bushel of carrots equal in nusri-
tive value to bushel OF oats, or with the
learned Professor who asserts that, because
carrots contain pectic acid, they gelatinze
the food in che stomach OF horse, and
make it more easily assimilable yet, as an
auxiliary food for horses and Iuilch cows,
carrots. and indeed most other roots, are OF
much more value than the simple amount OF
nutritiyo matter they contain would indi'
cate.
A deep. rich, mellow, loamy H. not
too heavy, and yet containing sufficient clay
to enable it, when we'll TILED TO resist an
ordinary droulh.-is admirably adapted for
carrots. From 20 to 40 loads of well rotted
manure per ocre should be spread upon the
land in the spring, and Incorporated with
the soil as much as possible, before ploring.
with the cullyator or harrow. Then plow
il under as deep as the nature Of the soil
will warrant. Let four hands follow the
team, and rake into the iurrow any manure
that may be LEFT uncovered, leaving the sur.
face clean and smooth.
The ground should be sown soon after it
is plowed, while moist, in rows IL to IA
inches apart, and about half On inch deep.
The soil should be pressed upon the seed by
treading or rolling. IL this is done, and
the seed is soaked rs hours in tepid water,
and then dried with plaster,till il will separ-
ate readily, before sowing, tho difficulty Of
termination, which many complain OF, will
be avoided. II sown by hand, pounds OF
seed pepacre is the usual quantity; il with
a drill, 2 pounds will be sufficient. In the
former case, the land should be marked out
with a marker made for the purpose, and
the seed be covered with rake.
In this vicinity, carrots should be sown rs
early in May as the season will allow. IL
,h, weather Is favorable, they will 90 up and
ready for the first hoeing in about three
weeks. The hoe should then be passed
iishtly through between the rows to kill the
weeds. This is very important. Much 10.
Dor of wedding afterwards will be saved by
thus destroying the weeds before they have
full possession Of tho ground. The stirring
of the soil also helps tho growth OF the cur
rots. In ten days hoe again, weed the rows,
and thin out the carrots If too thick. After
two weeks, hoe deep, we'd, and thin out
the carrots to four or fvo inches apart in the
rows, and tho work is complete for the
season. Z. S. Hayward Of Brighton, Mon
roe Co., n. Y, q very successful carrot grow.
or, adopts this system Of management. We
were over mis- farm during the severe drouth
of last season, and his carrot crop was grow.
ing in fine luIuriousncss, apparently suGer-
ing no injury from the drouth. The land
was entirely tree irOm woods, the Lse- was
passed through the rows frequently, and
doubtless this constant stirring OF the soil
had much to do in mitigating the effects Of
dry weather. Mr.. II. average ahoa: 1000
bushels of carrots per acre. He says There
| Is no crop the farmc. can raise that pays sc
we'll, or yields 90 much good feed Tor stock,
EIperimenu were made with artificial
manures on carrots on the State Farm o.
Massachusetts last year. The manure wa'
sppor,ioned according to its cost, each acre
being dressed with twelve dollars worth
The result was as follows:
Barn gard manure, .s1 ou. Per As''
| Guano, ~
rOtash, %
psDurs sapsrpAOspAsis O.iimc, $50
Mapcs' T" improved" !" do o.1
Reservoir manure, e'o
Tho report does not inform us what kinC
OF guano was used, but We suppose IL to b'
Peruvian. Good Peruvian guano SOW
broadcast on the land after ], 10 plowcd, ant
| cnltiyaied in thoronvblv INCORPORATING 4