Parsnip 



( 164 ) 



Passiflora 



PARSNIP. 



Description. One of the most valuable tap-rooted 

 vegetables. It has come into some disrepute 

 owing to bad cooking. The Parsnip (Peucedanum 

 sativum, ord. Urnbelliferas) must be boiled and 

 served whole to ensure its true flavour and highest 

 nutritive properties being retained. 



Propagation. By seeds sown in drills about 15" 

 asunder as soon as the weather and soil are 

 favourable, towards the end of February or in 

 'March. The seedlings should eventually stand 10" 

 or 12" asunder in the rows. 



Soil. A deeply worked, moderately strong loam 

 is best, no fresh manure being necessary or 

 desirable. If possible, the land should be worked 

 in autumn, and be left rough until the time for 

 sowing. If the land be very poor, add some 

 decomposed manure to the second spit, but none to 

 the top soil. 



Harvesting and Storing. The Parsnip is a very 

 hardy plant, which may safely remain in the ground 

 through the winter. The difficulty lies in getting 

 roots during hard frosts. Some should therefore 

 be lifted in November, have the bases of the leaf 

 stalks cut closely down, and be stored in a cool 

 cellar or other suitable place in sand or fine soil. 

 (See CARROTS.) 



Parsnips for Exhibition. When perfectly clean, 

 straight roots are required for exhibition they are 

 usually secured by boring. A hole about 2' to 'A' 

 deep is made with a crowbar, and is moderately 

 firmly filled with a mixture of loam, leaf mould, 

 and sand, three seeds are sown in the top, and, 

 germination having taken place, the finest seedling 

 is selected for retention, the others being thrown 

 away. The roots go straight down, and perfection 

 is almost invariably ensured. 



Parsnip Fly. The leaf miner fly that attacks 

 Celery turns its attention to Parsnips at times. 

 (For remedies, see CELERY FLY.) 



Parsnip Canker. A minute fungus attacks the 

 roots, and leaves patches of brown on the skin, 

 usually towards the top of the roots. It is 

 exceedingly difficult of eradication. The position 

 of the Parsnip bed should be changed annually, 

 and infested ground should be heavily dressed 

 with lime. 



Good Varieties : 



Bobbie's Prize (see p. Hollow Crown. 

 163). The Student. 



PARSONSIA. 



Greenhouse climbing shrubs (ord. Apocynacese). 

 Propagation, by cuttings in summer of side growths 

 getting firm, in very sandy soil. A compost of 

 light loam and leaf mould suits. 



Principal Species : 

 albiflora, My., cl., cream, 

 wh. 



velutina, 10', Jy., wh. 



PARTHENIUM. 



Parthenium Hysterophorus is a half-hardy 

 annual (ord. Compositfe). Propagated by seeds. 

 Ordinary garden soil. 



Principal Species : 



Hysterophorus, 3', sum., hlf-hdy., whitish. Bas- 

 tard Feverfew. 



Partridge Berry (sec Gcmltkeria and Mitchella"). 

 Partridge Pea (see Heisteria). 



PASCALIA. 



Half-hardy herbaceous perennials (ord. Com- 

 positse). Propagation, by division, or by cuttings 

 beneath a hand-light in summer. Any fertile soil 

 suits. 



Principal Species : 



glauca, 1J', Jy., yel. 



PASITHEA. 



The only member of this genus (ord. Liliaceae) 

 is closely allied to Anthericum. It is half-hardy 

 except in warm localities and light soils. Propa- 

 gation, by division and seeds. Soil, light loam with 

 plenty of leaf mould. 



Only Species : 



caarulea, 2', Ap., pale purplish bl. 



PASPALUM. (MILLET GRASS.) 

 A genus of hardy, greenhouse, and stove Grasses 

 (ord. GramineiE), of no garden value. Millet, or 

 Indian Millet, is Sorghum vulgare, which see. 



PASSERINA. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (ord. ThymelaeaceEe). 

 Propagation, by cuttings of half-ripe wood in April, 

 in sand. Soil, sandy peat, with lumpy, fibrous loam. 



Principal Species : 

 empetrifolia, '2', Jy., yel. grandiflora, U', My., 



(nowThymela-adioica). wh. (now Cryptadenia 



filifonnis, H', Jy., wh. grandiflora). 



hirsuta, 2', Je., wh. 



Other Species : 

 Ganpi (uow Wikstrcemia spicata, 1J', My., wh. 



canescens var.). (now Arthrosolen spi- 



laxa, 1', Je. , wh. (now catus). 



Arthrosolen laxus). Thuubergii, 3', My., wh. 



(now Giiklia sericea). 



PASSIFLORA. (PASSION FLOWER.) 



Description. An important genus of hardy 

 greenhouse and stove climbers (ord. Passiflorese). 

 The majority of the species are valuable for the 

 striking beauty of their flowers, and a few, such as 

 quadra ngularis and edulis, produce edible fruits 

 under proper cultivation. 



Propagation. By cuttings of young shoots in 

 summer, affording the tender species bottom heat 

 and a bell-glass, and the hardier cacrulea and its 

 varieties a hand-light. Seeds of cferulea germin- 

 ate freely if sown as soon as ripe, and the seed- 

 lings will flower the second year. 



Soil. Equal proportions of peat and loam, both 

 fibrous, with some coarse sand. 



Other Cultural Points. When planted out under 

 glass it is found advisable to restrict the root run 

 to a narrow bed or border, and the soil to about 

 1' in depth, otherwise the plants will prove over- 

 luxuriant. Pruning should be done after flowering, 

 and may be light or severe according to the space 

 at command. When growth is free, regulate and 

 support it, prevent crowding, and allow the 

 branches to depend gracefully from the trellis or 

 wires, as this brings the flowers into greater 

 prominence, and beautifies the structure. Fumi- 

 gation, and the use of insecticides, are necessary 

 at intervals, to ensure cleanliness and health. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



alata, 20',sum.,st., erim., amabilis, 15', spr., st., 

 wh., pur. : hrasiliana is sc., wh. 



a var. with sc., vio. ca'rulea, 30', hdj-. in 

 flowers. southern couuties and 



Patqut Flower (see Anemone Palsatilla.) 



