EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 245 



PARSNIPS AND SALSnV. 



Three varieties of parsnips and one of salsify were planted May 6tli, 1901, in 

 rows 2 feet apart, 2 rows to each plot and the plots 3 rods long. The tops of all 

 varieties made a satisfactory growth during the season, but the roots made no 

 appreciable growth until the last of August. The development not being satis- 

 factory by October -5, and considering that the plants are able to withstand even 

 extreme cool weather, it was thought best to leave the plots unharvested until 

 spring and thus enable the roots to make some additional gi'owth during the 

 balance of the fall season. None of the severe October frosts had apparently 

 damaged the tops which were still of a healthy green when finally buried under 

 the November snows. 



A plot of same dimensions, planted May 22, with Chautenay carrots was also 

 left unharvested, in order to test the effect upon the roots when left out unpro- 

 tected during winter. 



HERBS, ORNAMENTALS AND MISCELLANEOUS GARDEN VARIETIES. 



Variety should be the aim of the home garden. Many things not commonly seen 

 may be profitably grown near the house, for if the returns cannot be expressed by 

 the dollar sign, the dividends are none the less assured by the increased health 

 of the family and the moral influence of beautified home surroundings. With this 

 end in view the following varieties were tested in 1902: 



Dandelion. An improved variety of the common weed which it resembles in 

 shape only, being considerably larger and remaining much longer in good condi- 

 tion for "greens" or salad. The sight of housewives and children hunting for the 

 weed early in spring among old pa.stures and along highways, suggests the plant- 

 ing of this variety if only as a matter of time saving. 



Corn Salad or Lamb's Lettuce (Valcrianella Olitoria, Poll.), a weed cultivated 

 in Europe and sparingly naturalized. Sweet and tender early in spring and a 

 pleasant substitute for lettuce. Very hardy. 



Sorrel, Long-leaved French (Rumex acetosa, Linn.), a cultivated variety of 

 the common weed. The loaves are large, tender and juicy, very broad and often 

 10 inches long, retaining the pleasant acid flavor of the original weed. Much 

 prized in France where it is cultivated as a spring vegetable and used singly or 

 mixed with spinach. 



Cress, Gray Seeded Early Winter. A good substitute for the true water cress 

 and adapted for high ground. Leaves larger and coarser. 



Water Cress will re-seed itself and spread indefinitely Avhen once planted along- 

 side of a running spring or brook. 



Mustard, White English. Cut when 6 to 8 inches high the young plants make 

 a good substitute for spinach, while successive seedings will insure a supply dur- 

 ing the entire season when desired. As hardy as the common weed and will grow 

 nearly 6 feet tall when broadcasted or drilled close. The seed being high priced, 

 it ought to prove a profitable crop for field, culture. The plant itself when cut 

 while beginning to blossom ought to be of good feeding value, although this could 

 not be definitely ascertained owing to the absence of any live stock on the Station. 

 Three plots were planted as follows: 



Plot 1. Planted May 17, ox25 feet, cut for "greens," three cuttings being secured 

 at an interval of ten days between each cutting, the plants growing new branches 

 when cut 3-4 inches above ground. 



Plot 2. Planted June 4, 12x25 feet. One-half of the plot was cut for greens 

 once, then allowed to run to seed together with the other half of the plot. The 

 yield gave 27 pounds of straw and 7 pounds of well ripened seed, or at the rate 

 of 1,0161/. pounds of seed per acre. 



Plot 3. Planted July 25, 6x2-5 feet. Plants were cut when nearly in full bios 

 som and averaging 5 feet 4 inches high. The yield of green fodder was 113 pounds 

 or 32,815 pounds per acre. Considering the enormous amount of vegetable matter 

 to be plowed under, this crop ought to suggest itself as a cover crop for orchards 



Chervil, the pleasant flavored foliage is used in the s.ime manner as parsley, 

 the leaves being broader and less curled. 



