April.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 325 
Skirret. 
The Slum sisarum, or skirret, is greatly esteemed as a garden 
vegetable; its root is composed of several fleshy tubers, as large 
as a man's finoer, and joining together at top. They are eaten 
boiled, and stewed with butter, pepper and saltj or rolled in flour 
and fried; or else cold with oil and vinegar, being first boiled. 
They have much of the taste and flavour of a parsnep, but a great 
deal more palatable. 
This plant is cultivated two ways, first by seed; and second by 
slips from the roots: the former method I think the more eligible, 
because the roots which are raised from seeds generally grow larger 
than those raised by slips, and are less subject to be sticky. 
The seeds should be sown the latter end of March, or in the 
beginning of this month, either broad-cast or in drills; the ground 
should be light and moist, for in dry land the roots are generally 
small, unless the season proves wet. 
The seeds may be sown broad -cast, or in drills, and covered 
half an inch deep; they will rise in five or six weeks, when they 
must be carefully wed, and thinned to the distance of six inches 
asunder. In autumn, when the leaves begin to decay, the roots 
will be fit for use, and continue so till they begin to shoot in the 
spring. They may be taken up on the approach of winter, and 
preserved like carrots. 
To propagate this plant by offsets, dig up the old roots in spring, 
before they begin to shoot and slip off the side shoots, preserving 
an eye or bud to each; plant them in rows one foot asunder, and 
six inches distant in the rows; and in autumn, they will be fit for 
use as before. Or you may separate the roots that you have pre- 
served all winter, and plant them in the same manner. 
Sowing Common and Large-rooted or Hamburg Parsley, 
Sow a full crop of the common and curled parsley; and also of 
the large rooted parsley, as directed last month, in page 198. 
Sea Kale. 
If you have yet omitted sowing the Crambe maritima, or sea 
kale, it may be sown the beginning of this month. For its general 
culture, see page 198, &c. 
Coriander and Chervil. 
Coriander and chervil may yet be sown, as directed in page 198, 
which see. The latter particularly, is by many esteemed in salads 
and soups. 
Dressing, Planting, and Sowing Artichokes. 
In the early part of this month, if omitted in the last, you may 
give a spring dressing to your artichokes, and it will be a very pro- 
