OF ROOT CULTIVATION. 5 



improvement, with tendencies in some examples in 

 the following directions : — 



1st. The round-topped, long-root, having a re- 

 semhlancc to the Guernsey parsnip. (Panais 

 long of the French.) 

 2nd. The hollow-crowned long-root. " Hollow- 

 headed " of the gardener. (Panais Lisbonais 



type) 



3rd. The short, thick turnip-shaped root. " Turnip- 

 rooted " of the gardener. (Panais rond form.) 



These three forms were all of them much mis- 

 shapen, with forked roots, that is, fingers and toes; 

 hut still each of them offered opportunities of pro- 

 curing three original varieties from this new source. 



As an example of progress, we offer the following 

 engraving of a specimen of our Round-topped parsnip 

 of 1852. Pig. 3. 



This it will he seen has strong, fleshy forks, and 

 a tendency to form divided tap-roots ; otherwise the 

 shape is greatly improved, and the skin is tolerably 

 smooth. 



At this time our stock was for the most part fleshy 

 and soft on boiling ; the flavour, too, though much 

 stronger than that of the usual esculent parsnip, was 

 rather agreeable than otherwise. 



This matter of flavour is a subject of interest, as 

 most lovers of the parsnip, as a garden esculent, had 

 got to complain of this root becoming more and more 

 tasteless. That this was so our own experience most 

 fully confirms ; we have now, however, mended this 

 root very materially in this respect. 



Our experiments were only carried on with ex- 

 amples of the Hollow-crowned form, which following 



