roots will
have attained sufficient size to be drawn for immediate use: others will
come in for use in October and November. In the latter month, they will
be in perfection; and, before the closing-up of the ground, a quantity
may be taken up, and stored in sand for the winter. When the ground is
open, the roots may be drawn from time to time, as required for
immediate use. About the middle of April, the roots remaining in the
ground will begin to run to flower; after which they soon become hard,
woody, and unfit for the table. Before this takes place, however, they
may be taken up, and stored in sand, where they may be kept for use till
May or June."

_To raise Seed._--Allow a few well-grown plants to remain in the ground
during winter; or select a few good-sized roots from those harvested in
autumn, and reset them in April, about eighteen inches apart, covering
them to the crowns. The seed will ripen at the close of the summer or
early in autumn. Seed saved from plants of the growth of two seasons is
considered best; that produced from yearling plants being greatly
inferior.

_Use._--It is cultivated exclusively for its roots; no other portion of
the plant being employed in domestic economy. The flesh of these is
white, tender, sugary, and well flavored. They are boiled in the manner
of the parsnip, and served plain at the table; or they may be cooked in
all the forms of salsify or scolymus. Before cooking, the outer, coarse
rind should be scraped off, and the roots soaked for a few hours in cold
water for the purpose of extracting their bitter flavor.

* * * * *

SKIRRET.

Crummock, of the Scotch. Sium sisarum.

Skirret is a hardy perennial, and is cultivated for its roots, which are
produced in groups, or bunches, joined together at the crown or neck of
the plant. They are oblong, fleshy, of a russet-brown color without,
white within, very sugary, and, when well grown, measure six or eight
inches in length, and nearly an inch in diameter.

The leaves of the first year are pinnate, with seven or nine oblong,
finely toothed leaflets. When fully developed, the plant measures from
three to five feet in height; the stem being marked with fine, parallel,
longitudinal grooves, or lines. The flowers are small, white, and are
produced in umbels at the extremities of the branches. The seeds, eight
thousand of which are contained in an ounce, are oblong, of a
greenish-gray color, and c