6 THE PARSNIP CROP. 



better average for the whole. Another point of import- 

 ance to the farmer in thus dividing his root crop is, that 

 ' by availing himself of these several root plants he is able 

 to employ his field labour, and also his farmyard manure, 

 in a more economical manner than can be done when the 

 root produce of the farm is confined to a single crop. 



The portion of the farm to be sown with parsnips requires 

 to be got ready in February; as soon as this is satisfac- 

 torily accomplished the time for carrot sowing is at hand, 

 for which the month of March is the best season. In 

 April, the same labour is required for getting in the 

 mangold- wurzel, and then in May comes the busy time 

 of preparation for the turnip crop, which generally presses 

 more than any other upon the labour resources of the 

 farm. If, instead of growing the turnip alone, one-half 

 of the root-breadth be occupied by other root crops say 

 one-fourth by mangold- wurzel, and the other one-fourth by 

 carrots and parsnips the field labour will be more easily 

 carried on, the manure will be used more regularly, 

 while, at the same time, the interval between the recur- 

 rence of the same crop on the same soil will be, of course, 

 doubled. This will tend much to sustain the health and 

 vigour of the turnip plant, which are now gradually 

 being diminished by our forced system of cultivation, and 

 our neglect of its physiological requirements. 



In the selection of seed great care is required, as, unless 

 it be quite new the production indeed of the last season 

 it is very liable to fail. 1 In shape and appearance it differs 

 greatly from the carrot seed : the smoothness of its sur- 

 face, and the entire absence of the hairy attachments of 

 the carrot seed, render any preparation of it unnecessary. 

 It is, however, always desirable to test the quality of the 

 seed previous to sowing, by sprouting a small quantity, 



1 Col. Le Couteur relates that on trying to sprout seed, the produce of the 

 year but one previous, not a single seed would germinate. 



