Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-03-10
ABOUT ROOT CROPS.
The Carrot Is One That Would Prove
Profitable Here, Says Hawkeye.

Editor Cnronlcle.
want to say word about a root
crop that should be more generally
raised than it is, especially in this
county, as it seems to be particularly
adapted to our soil. The crop in ques-
tion is carrots.
They are very healthful food for
nearly all kinds OF stock and also Tor
people as well. Horses, cattle and
sheep are very fond of them after they
once get taste of them.
| fully believe they can be made to
produce as large crop as any root
that can be named, unless 1t is man.
gels.
Last wear | dug a full half bushel
measure from a one-rod row. Any one
can il IRE what that would be per acre,
coun Z the rows two feet apart.
They lan he grown even closer than
that and they will grow very close IN
the row, but to get the largest roots
they should be thinned to z to a inches
apart. often leave them great deal
thicker than that and get good yield,
but smaller roots.
A great many do not raise them be-
cause the seed Is so small and line and
plapts very small when they first ap-
pear. If they are planted very early
in the season weeds will give good
deal of trouble and much hand wedding
will have to be done, but if the ground
is kent stirred and the small weeds
killed until some time IN June then the
crop planted with good quick acting
fertilizer in the drill, one will not have
much trouble with weeds and the work
can nearly all be done with cultlvator
and hoe. Some may think that is too
late planting but with our average
season that will give them plenty Of
time to fully mature "a crop. Last year
/ had forgotten my row of carrots until
June 20, then planted the row, using
some hen manure and little fertilizer
(l2 per cent phosphoric acid and IL per
cent ,potash) in the row to give them
Quick start. The row was in our truck
patch and got three or four workings
with the cultivator. q hoeing or two
and thinning done mostly with the hoe;
there were no weeds to speak of. Soil
was pretty thin.
Along in early part OF the winter
wanted a mess of carrots to cook and
went out and dug half hushel basket
full and was surprised at the short
piece of the row it took. When
1T found it just one ROD.
The most OF She row is still IN the
ground. They can be left all winter IN
the ground just where they grew IT the
crowns are covered with an inch or two
of soil: a shallow turrow with small
turning plow will do that rapidly.
IT takes only a small quantity OF
seed as the seeds are small and light.
but it is best to SOW very thick and
then thin out, as the seed is heap. 1t
can be grown here as easily as turnip
seed ana in exactly the same Loanner'
There is something in this mountain
soil that seems exactly suited TO the
growth of carrots as they grow very
|uxuriantly if given fair chance.
| hope all the farmers of the counfy
will try at least small patch this ye;N
and think they will be greatly pleased
with them. Then try eating some OF s
hem for they are fine in soups and |
ust plain poiled with butter on them 1
,r hoiled and then fried. They make /
IS fine pies as pumpkins, made in ex- r
actly the same way.
Don't forget to give your horses
;aste of them raw, or the old COW or
m old eve with lamb, if the dogs have a
eft you any of the latter.
Yours for better farming.
Hawkeye.