MARCH] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 207 



TURNIPS. 



Sow turnips for a first early crop, about the middle, or towards 

 the latter end of this month, in an open situation, and where the 

 ground is light. 



The proper sort to sow now is principally the early Dutch and six 

 weeks turnip, they being the best sort to sow at this season in gar- 

 dens, but especially for the first and second crops ; excepting in very 

 cool and moist localities, turnips do not succeed during the summer 

 months. 



SCORZONERA AND SALSAFY. 



The latter end of this month you may sow scorzonera and salsafy ; 

 these plants are in some families much esteemed for their roots, 

 which are the only parts that are eaten, except the salsafy, as ex- 

 plained below. 



The roots run pretty deep in the ground, in the manner of carrots 

 and parsneps, and are boiled or stewed, and eaten either alone or with 

 flesh- meat, like young carrots, &c. 



But the salsafy is estimable both for its roots as above, and for the 

 young shoots rising in the spring from the year old plants, being 

 gathered while green and tender, are good to boil and eat in the man- 

 ner of asparagus. 



Dig one or more beds for each of the above, in an open situation. 

 Sow the seed either in shallow drills, six inches distant, and earthed 

 over half an inch, or sow on the surface, covered from the alleys, and 

 the beds then raked; they are all to remain where sown, and the 

 plants thinned in May to from four to six inches distant. 



LARGE ROOTED PARSLEY. 



Sow the seeds of Hamburg, or large rooted parsley ; this is culti- 

 vated for its large parsnep-like root : let the seeds be sown in an open 

 situation, either in shallow drills, or on the surface, and raked in 

 evenly; when the plants are two or three inches in growth, they 

 must be thinned to six inches distant, that the roots may have room 

 to swell. 



SKIRRETS. 



Skirret seed may be sown tolerably thin, on beds of good earth 

 and raked in, or they may be propagated by parting their roots, and 

 planting them at six or eight inches distant. The fleshy tubers of 

 these roots are considered very delicious. 



SOWING PARSLEY. 



Parsley seed may be sown in a single drill along the edge of the 

 quarters or borders of the garden ; it will make a useful and also a 

 neat edging, if not suffered to grow rank, especially the curled parsley; 



