ASPARAGUS. 149 



in another section, the common sort ; but, when both were 

 made to change places, the common acquired the dimensions 

 of the giant, whilst the latter diminished to the ordinary size. 

 Seeds of the following named and described sorts may be 

 obtained of seedsmen, and will undoubtedly, in nearly all 

 cases, afford fine asparagus ; but they will not produce plants 

 which will uniformly possess the character of the parent 

 variety : 



Battersea is famed for producing fine Aspara- Battersea. 

 gus, and the name is applied to the particular 

 variety there grown. The heads are large, full, and close, 

 and the tops tinted with a reddish-green color. It is prob- 

 ably intermediate between the Green and Purple-topped. 



Originated and named under like circum- Gravesend. 



Rog. 



stances with the Battersea. The top is greener, 



and not generally so plump and close ; but it is considered 



finer flavored. Both varieties are, however, held in great 



estimation. 



This variety, as also the Deptford, Mortlake, Grayson's 



O*itiit/* 



and Reading, all originated and were named 

 under the same conditions as the varieties before described. 

 All are fine sorts ; but the difference between them, and 

 indeed between all of the kinds, if important, is certainly not 

 permanent, so long as they are offered in the form of seeds 

 for propagation. 



Mr. Grayson, the originator of this variety, produced a 

 hundred sprouts, the aggregate weight of which was forty- 

 two pounds, the largest ever raised in Britain. 



This variety resembles the Giant Purple-topped, German, 

 but is a little earlier, and the top is deeper colored. 

 13* 



