SUCCULENT ROOTS. 245 



perhaps rather an exaggerated statement: it has, how- 

 ever, been found by other experiments that eighteen 

 tons, the produce of one acre, will yield one hundred 

 gallons of proof spirit, a larger product than that ob- 

 tained from an acre of barley;* while the refuse sup- 

 plies a greater quantity of food for hogs. 



Attempts have likewise been made to prepare sugar 

 from carrots, but without success ; a thick syrupy 

 matter which refuses to crystalize can alone be ob- 

 tained. 



The PARSNIP Paslinaca saliva is, like the 

 carrot, a biennial, and is also a native of Britain. It 

 belongs to the same tribe of plants ( UmbelKferai) as 

 the carrot, and resembles it in its general characteris- 

 tics. The leaves are, however, larger, the parts not 

 being so delicately formed, and the whole plant is more 

 strong and hardy. The flowers are yellow, while 

 those of the carrot are white with a tinge of purple in 

 the middle. 



One variety only of the parsnip is cultivated in 

 England, though that runs into many sub-varieties, 

 according to the soil upon which it is grown. In 

 other countries the varieties are more numerous. In 

 France, as well as in Guernsey and Jersey, where the 

 soil is peculiarly adapted to this cultivation, three 

 varieties are distinguished by the names of Coquaine, 

 Lisbonaise, and Siam. The first runs very long, to 

 the depth of three and even four feet in the ground, 

 and attaining to from three to four inches in diameter; 

 while its leaves grow proportionally high, and pro- 



* The average product assigned to twelve stone or one hun- 

 dred and sixty-eight Ibs of malt, is about six gallons and three- 

 quarters, imperial measure, of spirit twenty-four per cent over 

 proof ; thus giving about two gallons as the product of a bushel. 

 According to this calculation, an acre of barley should produce 

 sixty gallons of spirit of the strength above-mentioned, which 

 is equal to seventy-four gallons of proof spirit, imperial measure, 

 or eighty-nine gallons of the old wine measure. 



VOL. XV. 21* 



