The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-17
The Cultivation of Parsley.

Vick's Monthly.
The best way to SOW parsley is to SOW the seed
in a box of sandy, rich earth, sift the lightest
layer of leaf.mold over, set the box out of doors
and forget all about it. The parsley is of the
same self temper as the angelica, Alexan-
ders aud artichoke, which come up when they
are ready, and not before, the latter sometimes
taking a whole year before it concludes to start,
parsley often taking a month or two to start.
For this reason it is not well to sow it early in
the spring, when the seed may decay before
coming up, but make the parsley-bed at corn
plantine time. The best time of sowing all
herbs, however, is in the autumn as soon ks the
seed is ripe. Have the bed dressed with plenty
of sand and coal-ashes, the latter, after the
usual screening, being passed through a sieve,
which leaves them fine as meal. In this state
only are coal-ashes fit to to put on
the ground, and in this state there will be less
doubt whether they are of any benefit to the
garden or not. AT least, they mellow and warm
the ground as we want it for a herb border. An
inch of old erumbly manure sifted on the top of
this soil after its dressing. leaves it in good con-
dition for seeding. Then, if you can get seed of
a neighbor from plants, just ripe, you may be
sure of seedlings that will have a good start to
pass the winter. Still, parsley is a plant for all
the year round, and you may sow at any time
convenient, in boxes in the house, or in the open
ground, as suits the season, if you have patience
to watch and keep it warm and barely moist the
first three weeks, after which frequent sprink-
lings will hasten the tardy seeds. Although the
y SSN SOASS " NNSj AD 49,
three years.
Now, parsley in this country is too commonly
used solely as a garnish for dishes, and the
curled sorts are chiefly in demand. But the
wise, knowing the excellence of its flavor, dis
criminatingly used, and its benefit to the health
freely eaten, choose the curled for garnish, but
the plain for cookery, having the highest favor.
Wherefore, plant one row of the curled, or the
fern-leaved, and two of the plain, and as you
love health let the border be long enough to cut
a handful every day in the year.
What disease is there parsley is not good for?
The worst kidney disorders have no better med
icipe. Galen recommended it for epilepsy; a
strong decoction cures jaundice and liver com
plants; it gently removes worms in children, and
it is of use to their elders plagued with the
govt. The ~ancients wore crowns of it at feasts,
and ate it to prevent being overcome with wine.
Parsley is a great preventive of disease, remov-
ing distinctions and purifying the blood
Scurvy and ~scrofula are purged by it, and the
better health and l~iveliness of French and other
southern nations is largely due to the constant
presence of parsley and kindred herbs in their
dishes. In soups, with fish, beefsteak, and es-
pecially with potatoes, parsley is indispensable.
What better dish varies the home table than
Lyonnaise potatoes sliced cold, Drowned in beef
fat with a few shredded onions crisping at the
same time, and finely cut fresh parsley pepper
ing the whole when done.