Occupations > Abercrombie's improved practical gardener; with a monthly calendar for the flower garden

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SCORZONARA.
This is a hardy perennial, rising from two to
four feet high, with a few embracing leaves, and
is branched at top; the lower leaves are linear,
eight or nine inches long, and end in a sharp
point. The flowers appear in July and August,
and are qf a yellow colour. The root is carrot¬
shaped, and at top about the thickness of a man’s
linger, but is tapering off to a very fine point.
After the outer rind is scraped off it is steep¬
ed in water, in order to abstract a part of its bit¬
ter flavour. It is then boiled or stewed in the
manner of carrots or parsnip. The roots are
ready for use in autumn, and continue good till
the following spring.
Propagation and Culture.
This plant is propagated by seed, which must
be sown every year, for although it is a perennial
plant, its root continues good only one year, con¬
sequently it must be treated as a biennial. An
open compartment of deep light soil should be
allotted for this plant. In March, April, or May,
the ground should be well dug, an'd the seed im¬
mediately sown, in drills, ten inches asunder, and
for every thirty feet of drill, one ounce of seed
will be required; it must be covered over about
half an inch, and when the plants are up about