io68 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



in June, thus ensuring both summer and winter supplies. The 

 soil should be deeply worked and well manured some time 

 prior to sowing, as Parsley always pays well for good culture. 

 The drills may be drawn ift. apart, and not more than lin. 

 deep. The seeds should, be sown thinly, and immediately the 

 plants are large enough to handle they should be thinned out to 

 I ft. apart : this will appear a waste of space at the time of 

 thinning, but the result will be proof to the contrary. In the 

 great majority of gardens the plants are insufficiently thinned, 

 and stifle .each other. The Moss-Curled variety is one of the 

 best for all requirements. 



Parsnips. 



The culture already advised for Beet and Carrots will also 

 be suitable for Parsnips, viz., using deeply-worked soil that has 

 been well manured for a previous crop. For general crops the 

 seed should be sown at the end of February or early in March 

 very thinly in drills i5in. apart, afterwards thinning the plants 

 to I ft. apart in the rows. As the Parsnip is a strong and rapid 

 grower, no weeding will be necessary after the plants are thinned, 

 if all weeds are pulled at that time. Unlike most root crops, 

 the Parsnip is best taken up as wanted, and should not be lifted 

 and stored in sheds or clamps. If a covering of straw or 

 bracken is put over the bed before severe frost sets in, there 

 will be no difficulty in digging up the roots at any time during 

 the winter ; the flavour will also be sweeter and far superior to 

 roots which have been lifted in the autumn. 



To obtain the long shapely roots seen at exhibitions, instead 

 of sowing the seed in drills a crowbar is employed to make deep 

 holes I Sin. apart each way, working the bar about a little to 

 enlarge the cavities, which are then filled with sand or sifted 

 ashes from a burnt refuse-heap. Two or three seeds are placed 

 on the top of this material, and if all germinate the strongest 

 and most central one is left, and the others are pulled. In this 

 way long, straight, handsome roots are obtained. For exhibition 

 purposes few, if any, varieties will equal Bobbie's Selected, as it 

 combines length and thickness with colour and fine form. For 

 main or general crops, The Student and Elcombe's Improved are 

 two fine varieties of excellent flavour. 



Peas. 



An open sunny position and soil that has been deeply 

 trenched and well manured the previous autumn are best suited 

 for this esteemed vegetable. Very little is gained by sowing 

 seed in November, or by sowing in January in heat, and trans- 

 planting out in March. A few days may be gained in picking 

 the pods, as compared with those sown outside, but these coddled 

 plants are seldom very productive ; one or two gatherings are 



