Pastinaca sativa.

Soil And Situation

The soil in which the parsnip succeeds best, is a rich dry sandy loam, and the deeper the better. The most inimical to it is gravel or clay. It is always beneficial to trench the ground two spades deep, a little manure being turned in with the bottom spit.

In the isle of Guernsey, which has long been celebrated for the fineness of its parsnips, sea-weed is the manure chiefly employed.

Of excrementitious manure that of pigeons is the best. Decayed leaves are also very favourable to its growth. The situation cannot be too open.

Time And Mode Of Sowing

The usual time for sowing is from the end of February to the beginning of April, but the earlier the better. It has been recommended in field cultivation to sow them in September; in the garden, when sown at this season, they also attain a finer size, but many of them run to seed. In the isle of Guernsey they regulate their time of sowing, according to the soil; in the most favourable soils they sow in January, or if the soil is wet or stiff, they do not insert the seed until the latter end of March.

Sow in drills ten inches apart, and one inch deep; the compartment being laid out in beds not more than four feet wide, for the convenience of weeding, etc. When the seedlings are two or three inches high, remove to ten inches apart, and the weeds both by hand and small hoeing. The beds require to be frequently looked over, to remove all seedlings that may spring up afresh, as well as to be frequently hoed until the plants so cover the ground as to render it impracticable.

The roots may be taken up as wanted in September, but they do not attain maturity till October, which is intimated by the decay of the leaves.

In November, part of the crop may be taken up, and the tops being cut close off, layed in alternate layers with sand, for use in frosty weather. The remainder may be left in the ground, and taken up as required, as they are never injured by the most intense frost, but, on the contrary, are rendered sweeter. In February or March, however, any remaining must be extracted, otherwise they will vegetate. Being preserved in sand, they continue good until the end of April or May.

To Obtain Seed

Some of the finest roots are best allowed to remain where grown; or else, being taken up early in spring, planted in a situation open, but sheltered from violent winds. If of necessity some of those are employed which have been preserved in sand, such should be selected as have not had their tops cut off very close.

They must be kept clear of weeds, and in dry weather watered plentifully twice a week. At midsummer the seed is usually ripe; the umbels may then be cut, and when thoroughly dried on cloths, the seed beaten out and stored.

Seed should never be employed that is more than a twelvemonth old, as it has generally lost its vegetative power when of a greater age.