192 PAKSNIP. 



PAESNIP. 



Pastinaca sativa. 



The culture of this valuable root is principally 

 confined to the kitchen and market-gardens. It is 

 seldom grown in this country as a farm-crop for 

 feeding stock, although it is one of the best on the 

 list for this piirpose. On soil free from stones and 

 in good heart, Parsnips will yield from six to 

 eight hundred bushels to the acre, at no greater ex- 

 pense for cultivation than is required for a crop of 

 Euta Bagas, only they need the whole season for 

 maturing. The roots are perfectly hardy ; they can 

 be left in the ground all winter, then dug and fed to 

 cattle in the Spring. Or a portion of the crop can 

 be taken out and pitted, for Winter use, the same as 

 Carrots (which see). 



When Parsnips are fed to milch cows, the quality 

 of the milk is improved, the cream is much richer, 

 and the butter of finer flavor. Young stock are fond 

 of them, and they will be found superior to any other 

 root for fattening both neat-cattle and hogs. 



When fresh seed is sown, the plants, while grow- 

 ing, need less attention than Carrots, owing to the 

 leaves being long and spreading, giving shade which 

 checks to some extent the rapid growth of weeds. 



Soil. — The Parsnip will give the largest yield on 

 a deep, rich, sandy or clay loam. For this crop, we 

 plough the ground in ridges, in the Fall ; apply from 

 fifteen to twenty-five two-horse loads of well-rotted 

 manure in the Spring and plough it under. For ■ 

 field-culture, the treatment is. in every part, similar 



