CARROTS FOR STOCK

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 274, 20 November 1935, Page 12

CARROTS FOR STOCK

Increasing in Popularity

As Fodder

The carrot is a crop which is each year increasing in popularity as a source ot fodder for itocK, particularly for pigs and dairy cattle. The crop doos well, and would be worth a trial on more of the farms of the district. The present day carrot was developed from the wild variety, which is common in many British pastures, and by the roadsides. 'lt has a long woody taproot and it was not' until the early part of last century that Al. Vilmorin (Paris) succeeded in producing fairly good garden types with fleshy roots and biennial habits, from the wild species; hence, ""the carrot, as "We know it, is only”abo‘ut”lUO years old. It "does "not seem to be known by every farmer in New Zealand that the carrot is excellent stock food of high feeding value, and specially to dairy cows, pigs, and horses. The cost of cultivation is rather more than that of swede or mangel, but it should be led as supplement to other food, rather than in the form of a full daily ration; hence, a comparatively small area devoted to carrot cultivation is all that is necessary. To some extent. • the valued the carrot is measured by the weight produced per acre, which should not be less than 20 tons. It is quite possible to grow 40 tons when the soil is suitable and the cultivation and manuring liberal. The carrot is of greater value than the swede for feeding purposes. It contains a lower, percentage of water, and has a small percentage of oil. It is also richer in sugar than the swede, dhd’contains IT per cent, carbohydrates as against 7.1 per cent, in the swede. The writer wishes to emphasise, however, that the carrot, when used as stock food, is not meant to be cultivated in large areas. In Britain the roots must be pulled and clamped under a thick covering of straw and 6oil, as soon as they are mature. Even in New Zealand, however, the safe plan is to jmll and store them ,but a heavy covering of soil is unnecessary. Stock Varieties One of the best varieties for stock feeding is the large White Belgian. It is comparatively easy to pull, anil it stands about six inches out of the soil, and it yields a great weight ot loots per acre. The Wiltshire Giant is somewhat similar, and both are hardy and easy to grow. The most suitable soil for carrot cultivation is a light loam containing a high percentage of sand. The writer has seen fair crops on the heavier soils,' but the more friable soils are preferable, as they give less resistance to the descent of the taproots. The roots are also easier to pull in sandy soils .and much less of the soil clings to them when pulled. The carrot, having a long tap-root, responds to deep and thorough cultivation, with a fine surface tilth, which ishould be rolled before sowing the seed. If the soil is lumpy when the seed is sown, the roots will branch out in forks, and the yield will be comparatively light. As the plants are somewhat slow in coming away, the land should be as free from weeds as it is possible to make it. Carrbts do particularly well when sown in alternate ••ows with mangels, the rows being about 17 inches apart to admit of horse hoeing. The seed may also be sown through every coulter of the corndrill. but the drawback to this plan is that it makes it difficult to destroy weeds. Alternative Crops

When the mangel and carrot seeds are sown in alternate rows it is an advantage to make ridges, so that it weeds tome away before carrots the horse hoe can be used without danger of injury to the carrot seedlings. For the latter plan 2 to 31b. each carrot and mangel seed per acre, is sufficient. If the seed ib sown through every coulter of the corn drill, the space between the rows should be hand-hoed —it is imperative to keep down weeds. Carrot seed passes through the drill better when it is mixed with dry sand, although this i 3 not absolutely necessary, as it once was, when tho seeds were covered with spiny (projection, making them exceedingly difficult to sow. The present-day seed now comes to hand relieved of those projections.

$8 the seed should not be sown to depth than one inch, all should be removed from tEe corn coulters, if sowing is done wltETtimi implement. Carrots respond well to liberal manuring, and the main mammal ingredients . should be phosphates and potash. About 3cwt. superphosphate and 1 cwt. sulphate of potash should be applied. The seed may be sown any time between September and early December. The plants should be singled out to about five or six inches apart in the rows. - '

-"'I rt~*''eoficlursion,'_ 'the ' writer would strongly emphasise the necessity of keeping down weeds. It is a necessity in all annual crops if best results are desired, but specially so in the carrot crop.