Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-19
From the American AgElculluIIsI.

PAKSNlPS. g.,
This month"; in ordinary seasons, viii permit III
almost all regions of our country the planting OF
the vegetables which endure the frosts OF spring.
Among such are carrots and parsnlps. These, OF
course, are to be found in every garden; ana the
carrot on nearly every farm as reld crop, where
roots are grown for horses and cattle AS yet the
parsntp has not been made field crop to any eX-
tent even in Europe, and not at all IN this country
And still it is perhaps on all accounts the most
valuable crop of roots that can be grown IN any
climate that will not permit the winter exposure of
the turnip; and where the turnip VIII endure eX
posure, the parsnip does equally wei, ana Is quHe
as productive and in point OF quality far superior.
In The islands of Jersey and Guernsey they are
cultivated extensively, and those who have most
experience in their culture prefer them to turnips
In all climates of the United States north of Vir
ginia turnips, carrots and potatoes, must be gath
cred and housed, or buried in winter; and when
housed or buried though with the utmost care, will
IN part decay; and il frosted or over heated they
are ruined. Hence it is that the farmer needs a
crop that in any climate will endure the frost and
exposure of winter. In the parsnip he has it,
This root may be planted as as the frost is out
of the ground in the spring; it will grow all the
season, and until the ground iecez's in the winter
nav, will grow during the thaws of winter; 1t will
stand out through the winter and receive 40 HARM
indeed be improved in Its quality by the FROST 1t
may be pulled at any time in the winter, and fed,
and thus costs nothing to gather and store and
nothing is lost by decay or frost or heat. This
cannot be said of the carrot, turnlp or potatoc.-
Here 1t is superior TO them all Is it inferior IN any
thing for feeding crop? In nuirve properties
it is equal in quantity, and as good IN quality as
the carrot, and superior i'll both to the turnlp. In
given weights potatoes are superior to parsnips,
carrots or turnps; but Of these there may he rais
ed Win the same trouble, expense and manure,
three times the quantity that can of potatoes We
have seen at the rate of 1900 bushels of parsnips
al
under like culture, yielded only 300 bushels Of po
tatoes.
We recommend a general introduction of pars-
nips as field crop, as late winter and spmng
feedRg for swine, horses and cattle, and especially
for miich co,cS. Let the ground be mellow loan
pillow well and deeply; manure WeH and a0undantly
with both fine rotted and coarse unrotted manure
SOW two pounds of seed to the acre; make the
drills twenty inches apart; sow early the earlier
the better, say in March; cultivate well stir the
ground often and keep all weeds down have the
roots about eight inches apart, and Tor this purpose
commence to thin at the end of a month alter they
show above ground, and feed the mllch cows with !
the roots pulled; when sufficiently thin, keep them
well hoed until the tops cover the ground well
after which a light plow run between the rows &C.
casionally will only be necessary. Such Is the pro- |
cess Of culture; they require no more attention |
than turnips or carrots no insect troubles them
If planted early they grow equally well in hot or
SUMMER, US lilCN Ne tft SdItH Uiolst; my
will grow for nine months IN the year, and need no
housing or burying in winter Can our readers
tell us of root so valuable cattle and horses are
ford of it, and know that it is in every respect
equal to carrots, and superior to turnps 1t grows
in all temperatures Of summer, and resists all tenn
peratures ofwnter and ell decay, and thus obviates
all the objection made TO carrots and turnips, viz
the expense and trouble Of gathering, storing and
loss from decay. Will our readers not try it?
Cows eat parsnips with avdty, and the milk is
finely favored and the butter delicious. Beefmade
from them brings the highest price in the London
market All animals, horses, cattle hogs, and
sheep eat them more readily than carrots, and will
not touch potatoes when parsnips are to be had
In Jersey and Guernsey they used to fat pork as
wee as beef, and the pork is OF the best kind
There is peculiarly in the parsnp to which &c
ask attention Ii may be Turned into winter crop
1t may be planted in August and September, and
will get good growth by winter In the spring
following it will start with the first haws, and con-
tinuo to grow well all the following season, and
will not seed BY this means very large roots may
be grown, and the crop increased in quantity.
Seed may be obtained al any seed store at about
scventy-fye cents per pound. We trust TO hear Of
its extensive circulation in the coming season.