108 GARDENING FOR YOUNG AND OLD. 



dropping about two seeds to an inch of row, and covering 

 half an inch deep; if the weather is dry, and the soil very 

 light, it may be covered an inch or an inch and a half, 

 and in dry weather it is desirable to roll the soil after 

 sowing. As soon as the plants appear, hoe lightly on 

 each side of the row, and a few days later, run the horse- 

 hoe or cultivator between the rows; suffer not a weed to 

 grow, and ultimately thin out the plants, leaving them 

 from four to six inches apart. As usually grown, the 

 roots are quite small, because the plants are left too thick 

 in the row. Grown as I have recommended, the crop 

 requires considerable land, but the roots will be so large 

 and fine, as to command an extra price, and much more 

 than pay the extra cost of the land. Salsify is a good 

 crop for the field-garden, where land is comparatively 

 cheap. The roots bring the highest price in spring. 

 Like parsnips, salsify can be left in the ground all winter; 

 but at least a portion should be dug in the fall, and kept 

 in pits or in the cellar, as recommended for parsnips. 

 The seed can be grown as recommended for parsnips, 

 though the roots may be left thicker in the row, as the 

 stalks do not grow more than three feet high. It is well 

 to have the rows forty-two inches apart for convenience 

 in gathering. The seeds do not all mature at the same 

 time, and it is usual to go over the piece two or three 

 times and cut off the heads of seed as soon as they turn 

 brown. There is but one variety of salsify. We must 

 look to careful selection of roots to give us a good strain. 

 There is an abundant opportunity for improvement in 

 this direction, and I hope some of the boys will give us 

 an improved salsify not in name, but in reality. It can 

 easily be done, by continued selection of the very best 

 and handsomest roots for seed, rigorously rejecting all 

 that are not perfect. 



