CULTIVATION OF PARSNIP. 417 



ed, by cutting the roots into pieces before they 

 are given. The use of parsnips is said to affect 

 the eyes of this animal, but we may safely consi- 

 der this assertion as somewhat apocryphal. They 

 are found to supersede the necessity of corn, ex- 

 cept when the work is excessive; and in Brittany, 

 they are even used for this purpose, to the ex- 

 clusion of corn. 



I may add, that it is a popular opinion among 

 the Jersey farmers, that all animals intended for 

 the butcher may be fattened on parsnips in near- 

 ly half the time, and with half the quantity, 

 which is required in feeding them with pota- 

 toes. This must, however, be taken rather as a 

 general opinion, with regard to the superiority 

 of the one root over the other, than as the re- 

 sult of any accurate set of experiments, since 

 the practices of .agriculture in that island as well 

 as in Guernsey, are by no means reduced to that 

 nicety of calculation, which they have hitherto 

 experienced in Britain. 



In Brittany, they also form a principal article' 

 of the food of the people, and are still used 

 largely,, notwithstanding the introduction of the 

 potato ; but I need scarcely add, that, as in the 

 case of most other roots, the potato has, to a great 

 degree, also diminished the consumption of pars- 

 nips as an article of human food. The peculia- 

 rity of their flavour is such, as perhaps for ever 

 to prevent them from entering into competition 

 Ee3 



