Mary Ann Phelps, age 13, of Jamestown, N.Y., for her question:

WHO FIRST GREW PARSLEY?

Parsley is a vegetable that is sometimes considered as a herb. It was first grown as a food product in Sardinia and southern Italy. Early Romans had used parsley to fashion garlands to crown military and athletic heroes.

Parsley is closely related to caraway. The fresh leaves are used mainly to decorate meat dishes and salads but many actually include the green leaves in salads. Dried parsley leaves are often used in soups and other dishes.

Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and is rich in minerals, especially iron. But it is usually eaten in such small quantities that it has little effect on a person's health.

Parsley seed is sown in greenhouses, hotbeds or open beds. the plants are then moved to the garden abut a week before the last spring frost. Sometimes, in home gardens, parsley is potted and grown indoors in a sunny window during winter.