118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



But it is also foimd inland, growing in a natural state, 

 wherever the seeds may be carried and dropped by birds. 

 So that it would seem that there is no truth in the theory 

 that it is a marine plant, or that it requires salt. I have 

 made three applications of salt to my asparagus since I began 

 to grow it, and I have never been able to discover that it 

 made any difference in its growth — whether it made it any 

 larger, or whether it retarded its growth at all. I think, and 

 have always thought, that, on the whole, it was as well not 

 to use it. It may be beneficial in killing weeds, but of course 

 the temperature of the soil is reduced by the application of 

 salt (at least, so it seems to me), and consequently it makes 

 the plants later. The early asparagus is what we are after, 

 and I would not recommend anything that will lower the 

 temperature of the soil or keep the plant back, which I think 

 the application of salt will do. 



Mr. Cheevee. If this asparagus question is settled, I 

 would like to ask one other. I intended to have brought 

 some potatoes here to show ; but in the temperature in which 

 we came they would have been frozen potatoes when they got 

 here. There is a great deal of complaint all through the 

 country, as fsir as I know, of scabby potatoes, which is 

 attributed to various causes ; but I have never yet found 

 many intelligent people who were sure that they knew what 

 caused it. But if any one can tell the cause, or give any 

 clue by which we can learn it, and the preventive, I think 

 it will be a great help. I presume this is something that 

 potato-growers all understand without specimens being shown 

 them. 



Dr. Nichols. I want to ask Mr. Slade if there is more 

 than one variety of asparagus? 



Mr. Slade. I give only my opinion, from having culti- 

 vated what was said to be a second variety. My idea is that 

 there is only one variety. The difierence is made by culture. 



Dr. Nichols. You get those large specimens by cultiva- 

 tion? 



Mr. Slade. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Paul. I would say one Avord in regard to that. 

 When I set out my first bed of asparagus, I had two va- 

 rieties ; that is, I purchased one variety in Boston, raised in 



