VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 67 



Varieties. 



Those recommended are Hunter River Brown Spanish, Brown Globe, 

 Yellow Globe, Market Model, Danver's Ailsa Craig, and Silver Skin. The 

 small bulbs of the last variety are largely used for pickling. 



Diseases and Pests. 



Cutworm (page 114) ; eel worm (page 118) ; onion blight or downy mildew 

 (page 99) ; onion maggot (page 120). 



PARSLEY. 



See Herbs (page 56). . 



PARSNIP. 



As the parsnip is a deep-rooting plant it is obvious that a deep soil is the 

 most suitable. Even where the soil is of a shallow nature, the crop can be 

 grown supcessfully, provided that the land be deeply worked. A sandy loam, 

 if not too light in character, is the best class of soil, but fair results can be 

 obtained in "almost all soils with proper methods of cultivation. 



Manuring of the surface soil with organic fertilisers immediately pre- 

 vious to planting is apt, as is also the case with carrots, to cause branching 

 and distortion of the roots, thereby making them unsaleable. Hence, a good plan 

 is to work parsnips into a rotation so as to follow a heavily manured crop, 

 such as cabbages. When planted in the spring, the parsnips are ready for 

 use in early autumn, but, if so desired, can be left in the ground throughout 

 the winter. It is usually considered thait a frost before harvesting improves 

 the quality of the vegetable. 



Sowing during the hot months of the year is not likely to succeed to the 

 same extent as the spring sowing, as, in the latter case, the young plants 

 have a chance of becoming firmly established before the hot weather sets in. 



Owing to its poor germinating qualities the seed should be sown very 

 thickly. Jt is planted in rows 15 to 18 inches apart, covered to a depth of 

 about 1 inch, and then well firmed in the soil. The thinning of the crop, 

 when necessary, is different to that of carrots, and should be carried out in 

 the one operation as soon as the young plants are of sufficient size. A dis- 

 tance of 3 or 4 inches should be left between the plants. The tops will 

 quickly make a strong growth, and the only attention required will be the 

 keeping down of weeds and a thorough cultivation between the rows during 

 the early stages of growth. 



On deep soils this crop lends itself to field practice, and under these 

 conditions from 6 to 8 Ib. of seed per acre will be sufficient to obtain the best 

 return. The seed must be fresh. 



