134 ^^ there More than One Variety of Asparagus 1 



bushel; and one farmer — John Gist — raised four hundred bushels, 

 which were readily disposed of at this price. Fruit at these rates must 

 pay better than wheat or wool, and the Kansas farmers will soon see 

 it ; for under their slouched hats they have keen eyes. 



On the whole, we were well satisfied that the gold medal was 

 justly awarded, and that there is a glorious future to the Kansas fruit 

 ■^rowers. In developing this future the medal has greatly aided. 



January lo, 1S70. 



IS THERE MORE THAN ONE VARIETY OF 

 ASPARAGUS ? 



By Fearing Burr, Hingham, Mass. 



Notwithstanding soil, location, and culture have a marked in- 

 fluence on the size and color of the sprouts, still we are satisfied there 

 is more than one variety of asparagus. 



In the same plantation, from the same stock of seed, and under like 

 conditions of soil and situation, some shoots will be green, others 

 purple, still others red, and we have sometimes noticed scattering 

 plants almost puie white. Further than this, each successive year has 

 proved these peculiarities to be in a good degree permanent, if not 

 invariable. 



If there are no varieties of asparagus, then one stock of seed will be 

 as good as another, which we certainly do not believe. It may be, 

 and probably is the fact, that these differences in size and color are not 

 reproduced from seed ; still we are convinced that large and stocky 

 plants, as a general rule, will afford seeds which will produce finer 

 asparagus than seeds from plants of an opposite character. 



Our experience has shown that the seeds of asparagus sport ; and 

 this being the fact, there are varieties, though we confess them to be 

 less marketl and distinctive than are those of most classes of our 

 garden vegetables. 



