VEGETABLES AND THEIR CULTURE 397 



garden. It is found useful as a flavoring for soups and other dishes 

 and also for garnishing purposes. Seed may be sown under glass and the 

 plants grown in the same way as explained for cabbage. The crop may 

 also be started out of doors, the rows being spaced a foot or fifteen inches 

 apart and the plants thinned to stand one foot apart in the row. Parsley 

 thrives in any moist, fertile soil. Rapid growth may be encouraged by 

 top-dressing with nitrate of soda. 



Parsnip. — Parsnips are grown successfully in various types of soil. 

 It is a long-season crop, hence should be sown as early as possible in the 

 spring, and the soil should be made as rich as possible by the application of 

 rotten manure. The deep, sandy loams are preferred. Guernsey, Hollow 

 Crown and Early Short Round are leading varieties. The rows should be 

 from fifteen to eighteen inchesapart and the plants should stand from six to 

 seven inches apart in the row. The roots may be sold or used on the home 

 table any time after they have attained full size, but the usual custom is 

 to leave most of them in the ground until spring, because freezing improves 

 their flavor. It is rare that the roots are damaged by the hardest winter 

 freezing. 



Pea. — The pea is universally popular in American farm gardens. It 

 is highly appreciated because it is very early and also very nutritious. This 

 crop should be started just as soon as the ground is dry enough to work. 

 It is not uncommon to make plantings the latter part of March. The early, 

 smooth varieties are considered hardier than the wrinkled kinds. Alaska 

 and Extra Early are well-known varieties of the smooth type. Gradus, 

 Thomas Laxton and Nott's Excelsior are popular wrinkled kinds. Most 

 farmers plant a few rows of medium or late varieties, such as Improved 

 Stratagem and Telegraph. These varieties are excellent in quality and 

 very prolific. The pea thrives best in cool, moist but well-drained soil. 

 When very late plantings are made it is desirable to plant in trenches; cover 

 at first with about two inches of soil and, after the plants are up, gradually 

 fill in the trenches until the ground is level. This deep covering is favorable 

 to moisture conditions and the ground is also cooler about the roots, which 

 is an advantage. The dwarf varieties, such as Alaska and Extra Early, 

 do not need support, while the late kinds should be supported by means of 

 brush or wire trellises. 



Pepper. — The pepper requires practically the same conditions as 

 the tomato, although more heat is beneficial to its growth. For this 

 reason the plant thrives best in Avarm, sandy soils. An abundance of 

 decayed organic matter is a decided advantage in northern districts, which 

 are not very favorable to peppers. Among the mild-fruited varieties may 

 be mentioned Bull Nose, Chinese Giant and Ruby King. The Neapolitan 

 is a very early variety that is popular throughout the North. Long Red 

 Cayenne and True Red Chili are popular pungent-fruited varieties. The 

 seed should be sown under glass about the time tomatoes are started. 

 The plants of most varieties should have eighteen inches between them 



