MOWING OF ASPARAGUS. 119 



Towusend, I think, and the other came from Connecticut, 

 which professedly was " Conover's Colossal." I sowed them 

 in the same field, and gave them the same cultivation. I 

 don't know whether the "Colossal" was larger or smaller 

 than the other, but it has not produced plants half the size 

 of the other, purchased in Boston. 



A question was asked by Mr. Cheever in regard to mow- 

 ing asparagus. That is a point upon which I wished to get 

 information when I came here. I have inquired, and have not 

 been able to learn all I wished to in regard to that. The 

 second year after the plants were set, I let the seed mature, 

 having gathered the impression from some source that it 

 would be an injury to mow the plant. The seed remained 

 upon the branches and finally dropped, and the next year 

 they vegetated and grew ; and, for myself, I should about as 

 lief take a piece of sward land and attempt to hoe it with- 

 out ploughing as to hoe my asparagus field the year follow- 

 ing. It certainly would not pay me to cultivate asparagus 

 if I must let the seed mature. A man who raised asparagus 

 years ago, and successfully, I suppose, having seen my field 

 mowed every y-ear succeeding that, told me I missed it by 

 doing that, because there would be bleeding of the stalks in 

 consequence of the mowing. I replied that I could wait until 

 after the frost had killed the stalks and prevent any injury. 

 But he referred to a fact in his own experience, and said there 

 was an injury, because in one instance he mowed one portion 

 of his field, and the following year there was a small crop on 

 that part, while on the other part the crop was as large as 

 usual. I wish to know, from those who have had experience, 

 whether it is safe and proper to mow the tops. 



Mr. Wetherell. In regard to the question asked by Mr. 

 Cheever, I will state that a farmer in Kingston, in this State, 

 sent me, in the month of September, a potato in the condition 

 which he describes, saying that it had long been a mystery 

 what the cause of that condition of the potato was. The 

 person sending it in that " scabby condition," presented with 

 it an angle-worm or earth-worm, that was in the potato at 

 the time he discovered it, and was still in the potato at work 

 when it was received. It had been to this person who sent 

 the potato, as to the gentleman who made the inquiry, and 



