ON THE ENNOBLING OF ROOTS. 109 



hollow-crowned form, which following out from year to year we 

 at length obtained so perfect in form, clean in outline, delicate 

 in skin, and unexceptionable in flavour that we were induced to 

 hand over the seed in 1859 to the Messrs. Sutton, of Readins" 

 In 1861 we sowed a parcel of seed in our own garden obtained 

 from the Messrs. Sutton, after having received from them the 

 following notes upon the growth of the roots in their grounds: — 



" We are happy to tell you that in lifting some of each of all 

 the varieties of Parsnip in our trial ground your " Student " 

 was decidedly the best shaped, varying in length, but always 

 clean and straight." 



Any one can now procure from the Messrs. Sutton, of Read- 

 ing, the seed of the new root, now known under the name of the 

 " Student Parsnip." It is one of the best formed, medium-sized, 

 hollow-crowned roots of fine smooth outline, and for the most 

 part free from forked roots. Its fleshiness and solidity of struc- 

 ture recommend it as a good variety, whilst its flavour has been 

 highly extolled by the lover of this, to some, favourite root. In 

 size it is scarcely large enough for a field crop, but though not 

 recommended for the farm its history may well serve to explain 

 the origin of crop plants as derived from the cultivation and 

 improvement of wild species. 



