, 1858-06-11
agriculture.


Culture Of Carrots.
A correspondent in Orleans county, N. T.,
writes as follows to the Rardl NesO Yorker I:
lhave been much interested in the dis
cussion on root culture in the columns Of the
Rural, and have thought that perhaps might
add few items to the stock of knowledge
collected in this manner. In writing, however,
| shall confne myself principally to the car.
rot, as have found It the most profitable Of
anything in the root line that ! have raised
for feeding purposes.
The first thing W shto speak Of is the pre-
paration Of the ground. have tried several
modes which, with some reading and observa-
ton on the subject, have satisfied me that
the course to pursue is toPlow the ground as
soon as it is in order in the spring, harrow 1t
down, and then let It lay until after planting
corn, about the first of June. by this time, If
there are any weeds in the soil, they will be
pretty well started, so that with plow or
wheel CultivatOr, the worst crop Of weeds Of
the season may be completely exterminated
Then with the deep and thorough preparation
and manuring Of the soil in which all appear
to agree, think il is ready for the seed.
The best time TO SOW isthe first week In June.
I have sown carrots the first week in May and
also the first week in June the same season,
on the same kind of land, giving the same
cultivation, with the exception that those
sown the first week in Nay required an ex-
ira hoeing, !. e., they required hOeing at the
time or soon after the last were sown, and
sfter repeated trials ! have always found the
late sown the best. The reason why the
late sown were the best was easily seen In
the tops, those sOwn early appearing to RI
pen and die off, sometimes in the latter part
Of the season, except few leaves in the Gen.
ter of the plant, together With correspond
ing check in the growth Of the root, while
the late sowu would keep up . Wig rOus
growth into November. Thenext important
thing is to hoe, o. soon as the carrot begins to
show the rough leaf, with good, light, sharp
hoe, one that has not had the cornars worn
of; can hoe carrots thoroughly without
taking my fingers to pull weed. After
this hoe my carrots when ] have time, being
careful not to let the weeds get the start Of
thecrop. Ialways SOW carrots on dry, sandy
land, and generally near the house, 50 that
the most the work in tending them Is
done at odd spells and after rains, when it
too wet to attend TO other kinds Of work.
By this meansI can raise quite . piece Of
Carrotsand not Eeelit much. BY pursuingthe
above course, think | have raised and can
raise carrots at . cost varying from Eve 10
eight cents per bushel, although . poor or
neglected crop might cost much more.
Now, . few words in relation to the value
Of the crop for feeding purposes. raise
carrots principally to feed milCh cows, al
though sometimes feed them to horses and
oxen. With good corn fodder and plenty
Of carrots can keep over COWS in very
satistactory manner, and with such feed We
find no difficulty in making good butter in
the winter. OF this fact we have had q
very fair trial the present winter. In the
early part we fed corn fodder and carrots,
With cabbage leaves oCcasionally-then we
made fine yellow butter, OF good rich favor |;
now we feed hay and mill feed with little
grain, and the butter made from the milk,
Of the same cows, is an entirely different
article, being deficient in color and favor.
Although eOrn4Odder is, perhal - better
for making butter than hay, still i have no
doubt but carrots would greatly improve
the quality Of butter Il fed with either, while
-tho increase in the quantity Of butter and I'm.
prOvement In the condition Of the cows
wOuld.well pay for raising them. a-l
In feeding carrots to horses or oxen,
think they are more profitable when fed