176 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



PARSNIPS 



The wild parent of garden parsnips has a long, 

 slim root that tapers above ground into a long, 

 leaf-bearing neck. It is one of the oldest root 

 vegetables to be cultivated. Various writings 

 of ancient times make frequent mention of the 

 plant and its uses. The improvement of the 

 species was in the size and succulence of the root, 

 toward a shorter, thicker neck and body. The 

 yield increased and the fleshy roots were more ten- 

 der and easier to get out of the ground. The 

 richer and mellower the soil, the quicker the 

 growth, and the bigger the crop. 



When the English colonists established them- 

 selves on the eastern coast of this country they 

 brought with them seeds of garden vegetables, 

 including the parsnip. They were surprised to 

 find that the Indians were already growing this 

 vegetable, and could not remember when it was 

 introduced among them. It is known that it was 

 brought to the West Indies and later established 

 in Mexico by the early Spanish explorers. Possi- 

 bly the Indians got it from this source during the 

 hundred years between the coming of Columbus 

 and the landing of the Pilgrims. 



The English gardener has more foresight, I 



