Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/472

440] strengthening fodder for cattle. The method alluded to, is amply described in the eleventh volume of the "Annals of Agriculture," from which we extract the following account: Soon after Michaelmas, when the weather is dry, the carrots are dug out, and piled up on a bank of earth, raised about six inches above the level of the soil, and proportioned to the quantity of carrots intended to be preserved. On this bank is spread a thin layer of straw, on which the carrots are placed, with their tops turned outwards, and the ends folding one over another. The small roots are topt, and laid in the middle, to prevent the two sides from separating, by the greater pressure of weight on the centre. Every second or third row is covered with a little dry straw, and the stacking thus continued, till it reaches to the height of about four feet, when an additional quantity of dry straw is carefully spread over the tops, and the whole is thatched with sedge. Another line is then commenced in the same manner as the preceding, and sufficient room left for one person to pass between them. The intermediate space is next filled up with dry straw, and the outside defended with bundles of the same material, staked down, or fastened with hurdles. Thus secured, carrots will protect themselves from frost, by their own tops, and ensure a constant supply of fodder, at a period when almost every other vegetable is destroyed.

Various, but unsuccessful, experiments have been made to prepare sugar from carrots; as they yielded only a thick syrup, similar to treacle. Nevertheless, these roots have lately been more advantageously employed in distillation. After mashing, and properly fermenting them, M., a foreign distiller, obtained from ten pounds of the roots, one quart of what is called "first runnings," and half a pint of a very strong ardent spirit.—As a German acre of land produces, upon an average, 10,000 pounds weight of carrots, he is of opinion, that a loose soil might be more advantageously employed in the culture of those roots, than in that of any seed-corn.—See also p. 326,.

In medicine, a marmalade of carrots, on account of their strong antiseptic qualities, has been successfully used for preventing, and curing the . An infusion of them has also been found to afford considerable relief to persons afflicted with the stone, and worms, but especially the tape-worm.—A poultice, made of the roots, has often been attended with similar success, in mitigating the pain, and abating the smell, of foul and cancerous ulcers.  CART, a land carriage, with two wheels, drawn either by horses or oxen, for conveying heavy goods, &c. generally at short distances.

In rural economy, the proper construction, and adaptation of carts to different soils and situations, are objects of the first consequence to every reflecting farmer. Nevertheless, it is surprizing, that little attention has been paid to this important subject, previous to the late improvements in agriculture; the flourishing æra of which, in Britain, commenced about the middle of last century, or the year 1754, when that patriotic Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, was insti-