PARSNIPS AND SALSIFY 175 



These roots, measuring rarely more than 2 or 3 

 inches across the root-crowns, have large seeds 

 that are really fruits, long, gray and stick-like, so 

 full of vitality that we may expect a healthy seed- 

 ling for each fruit. 



Parsnip seeds germinate rather slowly and have 

 a very short vitality, only a year or two. For that 

 reason, fresh seed should be secured each year, 

 and plenty should be sown. The Hollow Crown 

 is the best parsnip. Soaking the weak parsnip 

 seed will hasten germination; and scattering the 

 quick radish seeds along the furrow will keep the 

 crust from hardening, and these robust plants will 

 make early life easier for the frail parsnips. 

 Seeding may be done just as early as the ground 

 can be worked. In fitting the strip for seed- 

 sowing, be careful to work the soil deeply and 

 thoroughly enough to render it uniform and fine 

 and to get rid of every stone, every obstacle to 

 straight smooth-growing roots. With parsnips 

 and salsify, especially, the harvest is settled be- 

 fore ever the seed is sown. As they work their 

 way down, the roots will turn aside or branch 

 at the least obstruction in the way. Sometimes a 

 small stone has been found lodged between the 

 forks of a vegetable oyster root. Rough uneven 

 branched roots tell the story of careless, hap- 

 hazard underground preparation; short stumpy 

 roots show lack of deep working of the soil. When 

 parsnips have a fair chance, they will sometimes 



