THE A SPA RA OUS. 651 



Substitutes for alliaceous plants are to be found in the genus Allium, 

 of which there are several indigenous species, and a number in gardens 

 which are natives of other countries. Three cruciferous plants, by no 

 means rare, also taste and smell of garlic viz., Peltaria alliacea, L., 

 a perennial from Austria ; Thlaspi alliaceum, L., a biennial from the 

 South of Europe ; and Alliaria officinalis, Andrz. (Jack-by-the-hedge), 

 a perennial, a native of Britain. The latter is used as greens or spinach 

 in many parts of the country. 



Asparagaceous Esculents. 



The asparagaceous esculents belong to various natural orders, but 

 the principal are the Asparagus, the Sea-kale, and the Artichoke ; there 

 are a few others of less note. They are all comparatively plants of 

 luxury, though the asparagus and sea-kale may with propriety be cul- 

 tivated in the garden of the cottager, who if he does not use the pro- 

 duce, may sell it. 



The Asparagus. 



The Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, L.) is an asphodelaceous peren- 

 nial, found in light sandy soils on the sea-shore in Britain and other 

 parts of Europe ; often where it is covered by drifting sand, and watered 

 by salt water during spring-tides. It is also found in abundance on 

 sandy steppes in the interior of Russia. It has been in cultivation, for 

 its stalks when they are just emerging from the ground, as a culinary 

 esculent, from the time of the Greeks ; coming into use in the open 

 ground in May, and lasting till the middle of June, and procured by 

 forcing during the winter and spring months. The shoots or buds, 

 more or less blanched according to taste, are boiled and served on 

 toasted bread with white sauce, and the smaller shoots, which are 

 allowed to become green, are cut into pieces about the size of peas, 

 and used as a substitute for that legume. There scarcely can be said to 

 be any particular variety, though the preference is generally given to 

 seed saved at Battersea, Gravesend, or Mortlake places famous for the 

 large size to which asparagus has been grown for the London market. 

 Mr. Barnes (late of Bicton) says : "I have seen the asparagus growing 

 naturally and abundantly in the county of Cornwall, more particularly 

 in three or four places about the Lizard, near Hel stone." 



Soil, and Sowing or Planting the Asparagus. Asparagus can only be 

 grown large, and succulent, on a soil sandy, deep, and light, more espe- 

 cially on the surface, from vegetable matter, and well enriched with 

 animal manure. The toughness and stringiness of much of the London 

 asparagus are owing to the surface soil through which it sprouts being too 

 deep, and not sufficiently light. In consequence of this the woody fibre 

 of the sprouts has time to strengthen and harden ; whereas, with no 

 other covering than leaves or even leaf-mould, the sprouts would 

 be quite tender throughout the greatest part of their length. From 

 the asparagus being a sea-side plant, it may be inferred that salt water 

 might be occasionally beneficial, and hence fresh stable-dung mixed 



