The Culture of Vegetables 



crop for its well-doing. We do not profess to explain the matter, for 

 we must stop somewhere, and may well do so with this practical 

 suggestion of a mode of evading the only plague the Onion-grower 

 need fear. 



PARSLEY^ HERBS, page 64 

 PARSNIP 



Pastinaca sativa 



THE PARSNIP is one of the most profitable roots the earth produces. 

 Probably its sweet flavour imposes a limit on its usefulness, but bad 

 cooking doubtless has much to answer for, the people in our great 

 towns being, in too many instances, quite ignorant of the proper 

 mode of cooking this nourishing root. When cut in strips and 

 slightly boiled and served up almost crisp, it is a poor thing for 

 human food ; but when cooked whole in such a way as to appear on 

 the table like a mass of marrow, it is at once a digestible dainty and 

 a substantial food that the people might consume more largely than 

 they do, to their advantage. 



The Parsnip requires only one special condition for its welfare, 

 and that is a piece of ground prepared for it by honest digging. Rich 

 ground it does not need, but the crop will certainly be the finer from 

 a deep fertile sandy loam than from a poor soil of any kind. But 

 the one great point is to trench the ground in autumn and lay it up 

 rough for the winter. Then at the very first opportunity in February 

 or March it can be levelled down and the seed sown, and the job 

 got out of hand before the rush of spring work comes on. A fine 

 seed-bed should be prepared either in one large piece or in four-feet 

 strips, as may best suit other arrangements. Sow in shallow drills 

 eighteen inches apart, dropping the seeds from the hand in twos and 

 threes at a distance of six inches apart ; cover lightly, and touch over 

 with the hoe or rake to make a neat finish. As soon as the plants 

 are visible, ply the hoe to keep down weeds and thin the crop slightly 

 to prevent crowding anywhere. The thinning should be carried on 

 from time to time until the plants are a foot apart ; or if the ground 

 is strong and large roots are required, they may be allowed fifteen 

 inches. It may be well to lift some of the roots in November, a few 

 spits of earth being removed first at one end or corner of the piece 



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