Aran,.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN 395 



Skirret. 



The Sium sisarum, or skirret, is greatly esteemed as a garden 

 vegetable; its root is composed of several llesliy tubers, as large 

 as a man's finger, and joining together at top. They are eaten 

 boiled, and stewed with butter, pepper and salt; or rolled in (lour 

 and fried: or else cold with oil and vinegar, being first boiled. 

 They have much of the taste and ilavour of a parsnep, but a great 

 deal more palatable. 



This plant is cultivated two ways, first by seed; and second by 

 slips from the roots: the former method I think the more eligible, 

 because the roots which are raised from seeds generally grow larger 

 than those raised by slips, and are less subject to be sticky. 



The seeds should be sown the latter end of March, or in the 

 beginning of this month, either broad-cast or in drills; the ground 

 should be light and moist, for in dry land the roots are generally 

 small, unless the season proves wet. 



The seeds may be sown broad -cast, or in drills, and covered 

 half an inch deep; they will rise in five or six weeks, when they 

 must be carefully wed, and thinned to the distance of six inches 

 asunder. In autumn, when the leaves begin to decay, the roots 

 will be fit for use, and continue so till they begin to shoot in the 

 spring. They may be taken up on the approach of winter, and 

 preserved like carrots. 



To propagate this plant by offsets, dig up the old roots in spring, 

 before they begin to shoot and slip off' the side shoots, preserving 

 an eye or bud to each; plant them in rows one foot asunder, and 

 six inches distant in the rows; and in autumn, they will be fit for 

 use as before. Or you may separate the roots that you have pre- 

 served all winter, and plant them in the same manner. 



Sowing Common and Large-rooted or Hamburg Parsley. 



Sow a full crop of the common and curled parsley; and also of 

 the large rooted parsley, as directed last month, in page 198. 



Sea Kale. 



If you have yet omitted sowing the Crambc maritima, or sea 

 kale, it may be sown the beginning of this month. For its general 

 culture, see page 198, &c. 



Coriander and Chervil. 



Coriander and chervil may yet be sown, as directed in page 198, 

 which see. The latter particularly, is by many esteemed in salads 

 and soups. 



Dressing, Planting, and Solving Artichokes. 



In the early part of this month, if omitted in the last, you may 

 give a spring dressing to your artichokes, and it will be a very pro- 



