176 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [chap. vi. 
generally sown in February* and the prin¬ 
cipal crop about the middle of March. 
The Parsnip requires the same culture as 
the carrot* except that there is no early crop. 
The seed is sown in February or March* and 
the roots are ready for use about the latter 
end of September* or beginning of October. 
The Bed Beet is a native of the sea-coast 
on the south of Europe* and was introduced 
in 1656. The seed should not be sown till 
the last week in March* or the beginning of 
April. The ground should previously be 
dug to the depth of a foot or eighteen 
inches* and mixed with a little sea or river 
sand* and vegetable mould* or rotten dung. 
The roots will be ready for the table in 
September or October. In taking them 
up* and boiling them* great care must be 
taken not to wound the outer skin; as* if 
they are scraped or broken* all the colouring 
liquid will escape, and the root will become 
of a dull* dingy* whitish pink* instead of its 
usual brilliant red. 
The Skirret * the Scorzonera * and the Salsify , 
are all tap-rooted plants* which require the 
same culture as the carrot. 
