CULTIVATION OF PASNIP. 11 



carrot and the potato. When small, it is given to the 

 animals whole ; but when large, it is sliced longitudinally. 

 As no farmer in Guernsey feeds his horses or cattle on 

 parsnips alone, it is not possible to determine its exact value 

 from their practice, with the accuracy which the more 

 scientific agriculturists of this country would desire. The 

 art has not yet attained in that island the same precision, 

 nor been subjected to the same laws of rigid calculation, 

 which it has undergone in Britain. But a tolerable con- 

 clusion may be drawn of the efficiency of this root, even 

 from the examination of the testimony of Guernsey farmers. 



Cows fed with parsnips, are said not to yield so great a 

 quantity of milk, as. when fed with turnips ; but the milk 

 is richer, and the butter is better, as well as in far greater 

 proportion, and both are also free from the disagreeable 

 flavour which they acquire from turnips ; a circumstance 

 highly deserving the attention of those dairy farmers, who 

 supply the population of great towns, with these indispen- 

 sable articles of consumption. They are in fact equal to 

 those which are produced by feeding in the best pastures. 

 These animals, when intended for the butcher, are observed 

 to fatten faster and better on parsnips, than on any other 

 food. The only precaution used, is to interpose hay, to 

 preventthem from being surfeited with the root. It is also 

 found necessary to begin with a smaller proportion, as they 

 are apt to be satiated with this food in the first week, if 

 given to excess. After that period, it is remarked that it 

 may be used in any quantity. 



The farmers are of opinion, that cabbages are the best 

 substance to interpose for this purpose, although turnips 

 or hay may also be given with the parsnip. The allowance 



