92 GAKDENING FOE YOUNG AND OLD. 



TO EAISE PARSNIP SEED. 



Where the crop of Parsnip seed is not injured by the 

 caterpillar (Depressaria cicutella), its production is easy 

 and profitable. But it is desirable to take more pains in 

 raising it than is sometimes given to the crop. The seed 

 should never be grown from plants which have been left 

 in the ground all winter, and suffered to throw up their 

 stalks where they stand, as it is impossible to tell which 

 are and which are not the best formed roots. The roots 

 should be taken up in autumn, and carefully selected, 

 rejecting all that show any disposition to fork or throw 

 out fangs. The smoothest, handsomest, and best formed 

 roots only, should be selected for seed. Prepare the land 

 the previous autumn, plowing it not less than ten inches 

 deep, and working in a good coat of well-rotted manure, 

 not less than twenty tons per acre. The more thoroughly 

 the land can be worked the better; then, as early in the 

 spring as the soil and season will admit, mark out the 

 land in rows, forty-two inches apart, and with a good 

 plow throw out a deep, straight furrow. Set out the pars- 

 nips six to eight inches apart in the furrow, and, if neces- 

 sary, use a crowbar to make holes for them; then turn 

 the furrow back again upon the parsnips, finishing the 

 work with a hoe, taking care to pull the soil well up to 

 the crowns. If the soil is loose and mellow, it may be 

 half an inch or so deep on top of the roots. Nothing 

 more is required, except to keep the land well cultivated 

 and hoed, as long as you can get between the rows with 

 a horse. If any weeds are left, they must be pulled out 

 by hand, or cut off with the hoe. If the caterpillars ap- 

 pear, there is nothing to be done but to give them a 

 gentle pressure with the finger and thumb. If they bury 

 themselves in the umbels, do not wait to ascertain 

 whether the caterpillar is in the nest or not, give it the 

 benefit of the doubt. I have pinched many a nest with 



