Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/40

32 CARSON CARSTAIRS more thickly in the drill, and tilled by horse power. The land is deeply ploughed, sub- soiled, smoothly harrowed, and rolled. The seed is sown from a drill barrow at a depth of one half to three quarters of an inch. Some drilling machines sow a special manure with the seed, which is advantageous in giving the plants an early start. Should any manure be required, it would be advisable to use soluble special manures, made with regard to the wants of the plant and the deficiencies of the soil. The best Peruvian guano, mixed with many times its bulk of muck or charcoal dust, will answer a good purpose if ploughed in the soil before planting; 300 to 500 Ibs. per acre will be re- quired for a good dressing. Soluble super- phosphate of lime, with about one third its weight of guano, probably forms one of the best general manures for carrots. Ten bushels of common salt per acre will add to its value ; and on most soils 25 or 50 bushels of unleached wood ashes dressed over the surface separately from and after the other manures, so that they will not come in immediate contact with the ashes, will increase the yield. After-culture consists in frequent stirring of the soil with a horse hoe, root cleaner, or other similar instru- ment, which cuts close to the plant, and de- molishes all weeds in spaces between the rows. In November the crop is lifted, by running a subsoil lifter close to a row of carrots at full depth, say 10 to 20 inches; this will loosen the whole soil, and the roots may be readily pulled, the tops rempved with a knife, fed to the cattle, or left on the ground to be ploughed under for manure, while the roots are stored in a cool cellar, where an even temperature just above freezing is maintained ; or they may be pitted in long narrow piles in the field, cov- ered with two or three inches of long rye straw and several inches in depth of earth, leaving straw chimneys to ventilate the pits. When fed to cattle, they should be washed in clean water, and cut in thin slices, and given alone or with other food. The meal for fat- tening cattle should be sprinkled over carrots. CARSON, Christopher, popularly known as KIT CARSON, an American mountaineer, trapper, guide, and soldier, born in Madison co., Ky., Dec. 24, 1809, died at Fort Lynn, Colorado, May 23, 1868. While he was yet an infant his family emigrated to what is now Howard co., Mo. At 16 years of age he was apprenticed to a saddler, with whom he continued two years. The next eight years of his life were passed as a trapper, which pursuit he relinquished on re- ceiving the appointment of hunter to Bent's fort, where he continued for eight years more. He was then engaged by Fremont as guide in his explorations. In 1847 he received an appoint- ment as lieutenant in the i^fle corps of the army. In 1853 he drove 6,500 sheep to Cali- fornia, a difficult but successml undertaking. On his return to Taos he was appointed In- d an agent in New Mexico, and was instru- mental in bringing about many treaties with the Indians. During the civil war he rendered important services in New Mexico, Colorado, and the Indian territory, rose to the rank of colonel, and was brevetted brigadier general. He died from the rupture of an artery in the neck. See "Life of Kit Carson," by Charles Burdett (Philadelphia, 1869). CARSON CITY, the seat of justice of Ormsby co., Nevada, and capital of the state, situated in Eagle valley, 4 m. from Carson river, and 178 m. N. E. of San Francisco; pop. in 1870, 3,042, of whom 697 were Chinese. It is in a fertile and picturesque region. The Sierra Nevada mountains rise abruptly on the west, while the valley of the Carson extends far to the north and east. A railroad connects it with Virginia and Gold Hill, in Storey co., which is used chiefly to transport ore from the mines at those places to the crushing mills on the Carson river, and to carry back timber, which is abundant on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The state house is in course of con- struction. The branch mint occupies a fine building. The deposits of bullion for the year ending June 80, 1872, amounted to $8,564,436 69, of which $4,371,573 65 were gold, and $4,192,863 14 silver. The total deposits of gold to that date were $5,499,537 59. The total coinage, including silver bars, has been 441,449 pieces, valued at $10,881,428 18, of which 77,029 pieces, valued at $874,461 05, were gold, and 364,420 pieces, valued at $10,006,607 08, were silver. The state prison is at Warm Springs, 2 m. to the east. There are four quartz mills, with 76 stamps, for the production of silver, and several churches, good schools, two daily newspapers, and the state and odd fellows 1 libraries. Carson City was founded as a ranch before the discovery of sil- ver in Nevada, after which time it increased rapidly, being on the line of travel through the state previous to the opening of the Central Pacific railroad. CARSTAIRS, or Carstares, William, a Scottish divine, born at Cathcart, near Glasgow, Feb. 11, 1649, died Dec. 28, 1715. He was edu- cated at Edinburgh and Utrecht, devoted him- self warmly to the prince of Orange, and be- came minister of an English church at Leyden. After returning home, he took offence at the conduct of the Episcopal party, through whose influence he was arrested, after which he re- tired again to Holland. He was brought back on a charge of having been accessory to the Rye House plot, and put to the torture in 1682. Being dismissed, with the king's pardon, he again went to Holland, where he rose still higher in favor with the prince of Orange, who made him his chaplain in 1685; and as King William's chaplain and confidential secretary, 1688-1702, he contributed much to the estab- lishment of the Presbyterian government in Scotland. During the reign of Anne he still retained his chaplaincy. In 1704 he became professor of divinity at Edinburgh, and was four times moderator of the general assembly.