278 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



the above formula in the drills. One should be sure that 

 it is worked in deeply and thoroughly. A good way will 

 be to run out a deep double furrow where the row is to 

 be, apply a portion of the fertilizer, and mix thoroughly 

 with enough soil to fill about one-third of the furrow; 

 then add some more fertilizer and mix in more soil; 

 continue this mixing until all the fertilizer has been used, 

 when the row should be a little above the general level. 

 If the flat or turnip-shaped varieties are planted, the prep- 

 aration and fertilizer need not be so deep. 



Sowing and cultivating parsnips. 



Seed should be sown during September, October and 

 November. The earliest sowing will allow the plants to 

 mature by the first of January. The summer crop has 

 not met with so much success. There is no danger of 

 the young plants being frozen. The rows should be made 

 18 inches or 2 feet apart and thinned to 4 inches in the 

 row. The seed is a little slow to germinate, so it will be 

 well to add some radish or turnip seed to mark the row. 



The cultivation is best carried on by horse implements 

 after the plants are about four or five inches high. When 

 the roots are about a foot long and an inch in diameter, 

 they will be found sufficiently mature to use. Parsnips 

 are marketed in barrels, very much as potatoes. The 

 preparation for table use is quite similar to that of potatoes. 



Varieties. 



The improved Hollow Crown, or Sugar, and Student are 

 good long varieties of parsnip ; the first named is the larger 

 and longer. 



