4 THE PAKSNIP CROP. 



The preparation of the soil is much the same as that 

 required by the carrot; more care and attention are 

 needed, however, in preparing for parsnips, as the soil 

 probably may be of a heavier class, and the seed has to 

 be got in some three or four weeks earlier. These points 

 render it most important to get forward with the work 

 in the autumn, directly the preceding crop is off the 

 ground, as every day at that season is of importance to 

 the success of the intended crop. The means already 

 described should be adopted for cleaning the stubbles 

 both of annual and perennial weeds, and when this is 

 satisfactorily accomplished, the manure should be laid on 

 liberally and in a well-rotted state, and then covered in by 

 a deep winter furrow. Subsoiling the land intended for 

 parsnips will always be attended with beneficial results, 

 and as the breadth cultivated generally is but small, ifc 

 will not press too heavily on the team-power, so valuable 

 at this period of the year. If this strongly recommended 

 process can be carried out, it should be performed in the 

 manner described at page 469, vol. i. In this way, sub- 

 soiling for both the carrot and parsnip crops, a moderate 

 proportion of each in the root-break would in a few years 

 get over a large portion of the land occupied, materially 

 increase the depth of soil, and consequently the food- 

 supplying area of the farm. 



The proper place in the rotation for parsnips 

 is between two straw crops; and this it generally has 

 assigned to it, as owing to the long period it occupies 

 the ground between its seed and harvest time, it quite 

 fills up the interval between the crops which precede and 

 follow it. If the land has been well prepared before the 

 winter, and has laid pretty dry during that period, it is a 

 pity to disturb its weathered surface by ploughing, even 

 if the weather would permit., as running the grubber or 

 cultivator pretty deep across the line of ploughing will 



