44 4 CORIANDER AND CARAWAY CROPS. 



readilv recognized by its general appearance, and by the 

 peculiar smell and strong and offensive taste of its leaves 

 and flowers. It grows to the height of 3 to 4 feet; the 

 stem is smooth, and surmounted by the characteristic 

 umbels of whitish pink-coloured flowers. Its radical leaves 

 are pinnated, with broad, oblong, or roundish notched 

 leaflets, while the stem leaves are divided into numerous 

 linear segments. The fruit or seed vessel is globular, and 

 consists of two hollow hemispheres, each having on its 

 back nine ribs, five of which are zigzag, and four straight 

 (see woodcut). 



The cultivation is never attempted except upon the 

 best descriptions of soils; loams of good staple, marsh 

 lands that have been well drained, and old grass lands in 

 good condition, are those best suited to its growth and 

 requirements. It is rarely met with as a crop save in 

 Essex, and occasionally in Suffolk and the opposite coast 

 of Kent, where the class of soils and the climate are suit- 

 able to it. In growing these special crops no order of 

 rotation is adhered to ; they are generally taken as the 

 markets or the particular circumstances of the farm offer 

 inducements or otherwise to their cultivation. In all 

 cases, whether the crop is to follow a straw crop, or to 

 succeed to fresh broken up ground, it is advisable to get 

 the work of preparation as forward as possible in the 

 autumn, in order that the seed may be got in and the 

 plants well rooted before the winter sets in. If old grass 

 land be broken up, the sward should be well covered in 

 by a deep furrow ; if the crop follow a straw crop, the 

 ground should be well cleaned, and a good dressing of 

 dung given to it before it be finally prepared for crop- 

 ping. October is perhaps the best month for sowing. 

 About 20 Ibs. of seed are used, care being taken that it is < 

 quite fresh; the drills should be run at from 16 to 18 

 inches apart, the harrows and a light roller finishing the 



