478 
Hamburg Parsley (fig. 1243) is cultivated 
only for its edible fleshy roots. In order to 
have these large, the ground should not be too 
highly manured, but it ought to be deeply 
Fig. 1243.—Hamburg Parsiey. 
trenched. The seeds are sown early in March, 
in shallow drills 1 foot apart, and the plants 
thinned out to 10 inches asunder in the rows. 
In October or November the roots, having 
attained their full size, are taken up and pre- 
served in sand, or kept in earth in a border. 
There are numerous named sorts of Parsley, 
but they differ only slightly from each other. 
rc a - a 
Fig. 1244.—Parsley—Dwarf Perfection. 
Those most preferred have large very curly | 
leaves, of which fig. 1244 is typical. 
Parsnip (Pustinaca sativa).—A hardy biennial, 
native of Europe, including Britain. It is 
largely cultivated for its roots, which are very 
nutritious. A tolerable wine is also made from 
them. 
The Parsnip succeeds best in a rich deep soil 
and an open situation; a free sandy loam is 
also well adapted for its growth. The ground 
should be trenched and manured if necessary | 
in the autumn, as the addition of fresh manure 
just before sowing causes the roots to fork. 
The seeds should be sown thinly, in the middle 
of March, in shallow drills, 15 inches, or not 
_as required. The remainder may be 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
more than 18 inches apart. When the plants 
are about 2 inches high they may be thinned to 
1 foot apart, or 15 inches if very large roots are 
desired. As a rule, medium-sized to compara- 
tively small roots are preferred, these 
also being the least liable to canker. 
They can be had by leaving the plants 
10 inches apart. With the excep- 
tion of hoeing the ground, nothing 
further will be required till the leaves 
begin to decay in the end of October 
or beginning of November, when a 
portion of the roots may be taken up 
and stored in dry sand for use in 
frosty weather ; but as they are always 
best when newly dug, the principal 
portion should be allowed to remain 
in the ground, to be taken up for use 
taken up in February before they 
begin to shoot, and stored for use. 
These will keep till April or May in 
a dry cool place. The Parsnip-fork (fig. 1245) 
will be found very useful for taking up Parsnips, 
Carrots, and other roots. 
If seeds are to be saved, some of the best roots 
should be carefully taken up and replanted 2 
feet apart in a sheltered situation, where they 
will flower in July and ripen seeds in the end of 
August. Seeds more than one year old seldom 
germinate. 
Insects, &e.—See chapter on this subject. 
Leaf Enemies.—Cabbage Aphis, Cabbage Butter- 
fly, Diamond-back Moth, Garden Pebble Moth, 
Silver Y-Moth, Turnip Fly, Turnip Saw-fly. 
Root Enemies.— Cabbage Fly, Cabbage Gall 
Weevil, Daddy Long-legs, Dart Moth, Field 
Mice, Millipedes, Pot Herb Moth, Wireworms, 
Fig. 1245. 
Parsnip or 
Root Fork. 
| Yellow Underwing Moth. 
The varieties of Parsnip are :— 
Guernsey (Long).—An improvement on Student. The 
roots, which are long and tapering, sometimes attain the 
length of 3 or 4 feet. | 
Hollow Crown.—Leaves short; roots 18 imches long, 
'4 inches in diameter, hollow round the insertion of the 
footstalks, the crown generally below the surface of the 
ground. When well-grown they sometimes weigh as 
much as 5 lbs., and in quality they are excellent, being 
tender and of fine flavour. The best variety for general 
cultivation. 
Student.—Roots 3 to 4 inches in diameter at th 
shoulder, thence tapering regularly to the depth of 20 or 
30 inches. Crown generally below the surface of the 
ground. 
Tender and True (fig. 1246).—Not quite so large as 
Student, but more perfect in form, the quality is the 
very best, and the skin beautifully clear and smooth. In 
the opinion of competent judges, this is the finest Parsnip 
in existence. ) 
