THE CULTURE OF ROOT CROPS. 91 



the material as close to the seedlings as possible 

 without smothering them. In place of, or better 

 still in addition to, the mulch, dust the plants fre- 

 quently during June and early July with soot which 

 has been exposed to the air for some time ; or spray 

 the carrot bed frequently with paraffin emulsion, or 

 with dilute carbolic disinfectant, to maintain a strong 

 smell about the plants. If preferred, paraffin or 

 carbolic may be mixed with sand or soil and be 

 sprinkled between the rows. 



Parsnip. 



Botanical Name : Pastinaca sativa. 

 Natural Order : Umbelliferce. 



This vegetable is simply a cultivated form of the 

 common wild parsnip which is indigenous to Britain. 

 It appears to have been in cultivation before the 

 Christian era, and was held in high esteem by the 

 Romans because of its sustaining properties and high 

 dietetic value. 



Soil and Manuring. The parsnip can be grown 

 successfully in any good garden soil, but may be 

 said to prefer a deep medium loam. Prepare the 

 ground and manure as recommended for beet, but 

 before applying the fertilisers in spring fork over the 

 top soil once or twice to bring it into as fine a condi- 

 tion as possible. 



Sowing and Thinning. In the south and Mid- 

 lands of England the crop may be sown early in 

 March ; farther north, towards the end of the 

 month is soon enough. Level the ground and draw 

 drills 15 inches apart and 1 inch deep. Sow thinly 



