94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



be considered a large average yield. The analysis of the carrot 

 is as follows : — 



The above shows that for stock feeding alone, the carrot ranks 

 lower than most other roots. 



Parsnip. 

 Perhaps the culture of none of the roots is more neglected 

 by the farmers of New England than that of the parsnip ; and it 

 is to be wondered at, considering the value of the root for yield 

 and nutrition, and the labor required in its cultivation. The 

 parsnip needs a deep soil, but will flourish on almost any quality 

 of laud. 



Preparation of Land. 



This should be deeply ploughed and harrowed, then furrowed 

 out in drills twenty-four inches apart, and from seven to nine 

 cords of well rotted barnyard manure applied evenly at the 

 bottom of the furrows. This should be covered either with the 

 plough or hoe, and the seed from three and one-half to four 

 pounds to the acre, sown regularly, and covered lightly to the 

 depth of an inch, or an inch and a half. 



The whole subsequent culture of the plant is similar to that 

 of the carrot, with this exception — the soil should be levelled, 

 and if kept free from weeds for the first two months of its 

 growth, unless the land is exceedingly weedy, will succeed in 

 growing beyond them for the rest of the season. Thorough 

 eradication of weeds is of course always to be secured, if possi- 

 ble, but if any of the roots are to be neglected in this respect, 

 the parsnip is the one. 



