CULINARY ROOTS AND TUBERS. 121 



a main crop is sown, and later other French Horn carrot seed 

 to be used in winter. There is no carrot at all to equal the French 

 Horn (fig. 173) in tenderness and flavour, when the seed can be pro- 

 cured true. The Altringham and the Long Surrey are stored for winter 

 use, but whenever the French Horn can be procured, all the large and 

 coarse sorts are better used for the horse than for the gentleman's table. 



The Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa, fig. 174) is invaluable for winter 

 and early spring use. In nutritive properties it is perhaps next to 

 the potato amongst the ordinary culinary vegetals. We sow the 

 seed in February in shallow drills about a foot apart, and thin the 

 plants afterwards to twelve inches apart. The Student Selected Parsnip 

 is a fine flavoured variety, which we generally grow together with 

 the Hollow Crown. Parsnips are in the highest perfection in February 

 and March. 



Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthiis tuberosus, fig. 175) are more appre- 

 ciated on the Continent than in England, where this very 

 useful root is too much neglected. The Artichoke is a 

 very hardy root, grows with very little trouble, and yields 

 good produce. It is useful in spring as a vegetal, and 

 makes besides capital soup. It is propagated from the 

 tubers, and a fresh plantation should be made annually of 

 the superfluous tubers. It flowers sometimes in this country, 

 but does not seed. A friend of mine grew some acres of 

 them, but could not sell them at market at all, so little are 

 they used. Although Londoners discard them, they are a 

 favourite food with pheasants, which show in this matter a 



more refined taste. FIG. i 75 . Jeru- 



salem Artichoke, 



I bought a number of the roots of the Oxalis crenata in 

 Paris, where they are sold in the Palais Royal, but in my garden they 

 did not form tubers. 



The tuberous-rooted Chervil (Ch&rophyllum sativum, fig. 176) is 

 also commonly sold in the Palais Royal. Up to this time I have not 

 succeeded in its growth, as the roots have been too small for use. The 

 plants grow six feet high, and are ornamental. This year mine have 



