HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 
PARSNIP 
ASA native of Great Britain and Central Europe, the 
parsnip has been appreciated in Europe as a food 
for people and cattle for centuries. It readily naturalized 
and became acclimated in this country and is highly 
esteemed as a winter vegetable, although we do not ap- 
preciate its value as a rich food for cattle. 
Parsnips are rich in sugar contents and it requires a 
rich soil to grow them to perfection. But they thrive 
in any soil, though a sandy loam causes them to be of 
best shape and appearance. As an all-season vegetable 
they occupy the ground from spring until fall, requiring 
from 125 to 140 days to reach full size for table use and 
winter storage. 
They are easily taken care of, since frost does not 
injure the roots. It rather improves the quality. How 
to sow, grow, and cultivate parsnip roots is fully described 
on page 164. 
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