CULTIVATION OF PARSNIP. 7 



which deepens the furrow to ten or fourteen inches. This 

 plough is called the Grande Charrue, and as the small 

 farms into which Guernsey is divided, do not admit of 

 such an army of cattle in the possessiou of any one farmer, 

 this work is performed by a contribution of the neighbours, 

 who are repaid by the like joint-stock assistance, the 

 whole being attended with a holiday-like bustle, that cannot 

 fail to surprise a stanger. I need not remark, that a more 

 accurate system of husbandry could accomplish the subse- 

 quent trenching and turning up of the first furrow with 

 much less force: The spade is used for this purpose in 

 some parts of France as well as in Jersey, (2) but is less ex- 

 peditious and economical than a judicious use of the trench- 

 ing-plough. As soon as the clods are capable of being bro- 

 ken the harrowing commences, and is repeated till the soil is 

 pulverized, and reduced nearly to the state of garden mould. 

 The whole of these processes are intended to loosen the soil 

 to as great a depth as possible. 



The seed should not be more than a year old, as it is 

 uncertain when of a greater age. It is sown broadcast, and in 

 a day just so windy as to insure its regular spreading over 

 the surface. The seed is then covered by the harrow. 

 The quantity sown is from half a denerel (3) to one denerel 

 per vergee. The half denerel is judged sufficient, but 

 many farmers sow the whole, to enable them to harrow the 

 land before the first weeding, by which means, they 



(2) Sometimes also in Guernsey in linited farms, or in very small 

 enclosures. 



(3) The denerel is four quarts ; thevergee 17,840 square feet ;2,46 vergees 

 are equal to an English acre, which consequently gives about ten quarts 

 to the acre. The price of parsnip seed while I write, is 2s. 6d. the denerel, 

 making the whole ezpence per acre nearly 7s. 6d 



