416 OLERACEOUS PLANTS. 



maining in the earth four or five weeks before the plants 

 appear, the sowing should be made as early in spring as 

 the ground is in working condition. Lay out the bed of a 

 size corresponding to the supply required, spade it deeply 

 and thoroughly, level the surface (making it fine and smooth), 

 and sow the seed in drills fourteen inches apart, and half an 

 inch deep. When the plants are two or three inches high, 

 thin them to eight or ten inches apart, being careful, in the 

 thinning, to leave only the best curled plants. 



According to Lindley, the finest curled kinds will rapidly 

 degenerate, and become plain, if left to themselves ; while, 

 on the other hand, really excellent sorts may be considerably 

 improved by careful cultivation. 



The best curled Parsley is obtained by repeated trans- 

 plantings. When the seedlings are two inches high, they 

 are set in rows ten inches apart, and six inches apart in the 

 rows. In about four weeks, they should be again trans- 

 planted to where they are to remain, in rows eighteen inches 

 apart, and fourteen inches apart in the rows. When thus 

 treated, the plants become remarkably close, of a regular, 

 rosette-like form, and often entirely cover the surface of the 

 ground. When grown for competition or for exhibition, 

 this process of transplanting is thrice, and often four times, 

 repeated. 



Seed. In autumn, select two or three of the finest curled 

 and most symmetrical plants ; allow them to remain un- 

 plucked ; give a slight protection during winter, and in the 

 following summer they will yield abundantly. Much care is 

 requisite in keeping the varieties true. This is especially 

 the case with the curled sorts. The seed-growers, who 

 value their stock and character, select the best and finest 

 curled plants, and allow no others to flower and seed. 

 When the object is to improve a variety, but few seeds are 

 saved from a plant, and in some cases but few seeds from a 

 head. 



