472 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XXVII. 



question of gathering hear the French side : — " In certain localities 

 they do not yet value the distinction between blanched and green 

 Asparagus, and occasionally prefer the last. That is an error 

 very prejudicial to the consumer's interests. Properly-blanched 

 Asparagus is infinitely more tender and delicate. All Asparagus 

 cut when it is green is not fit to be eaten in the ordinary way, but 

 may be used cut up small as an accompaniment to other dishes. 

 To serve up green Asparagus is to dishonour the table ! In the 

 markets of Paris the green Asparagus is worth one franc a bunch, 

 when the blanched is worth three francs ; they do not eat it (the 

 green Asparagus) — it serves for the manufacture of syrup of 

 Asparagus. — V. F. Lebeuf " of Argenteuil. 



There was originally but one single variety of edible Asparagus 

 (Asparagus officinalis), from which have come the commonly-grown 

 sort and larger variety (A. major) ; the former of which has 

 given birth to the early kinds known as Hative rose d'Ulm, de 

 Hollande, at d'Argenteuil, and the latter to the late kinds of the 

 same names. Culture and selection has so great an influence 

 upon vegetation, that it improves the constitution, habit, and 

 even the flavour. It is by dint of observation, care, and patience, 

 that the growers at Argenteuil have been able to improve Aspa- 

 ragus, have created the two varieties " early " and " late," and have 

 settled or established them in a manner to render them superior 

 to the original type in size and quality. The favourite is the Argen- 

 teuil Early Asparagus (Hative d'Argenteuil), because it gives 

 heavier crops and is ready ten days earlier than the earliest other 

 sorts known. Under good culture the late Argenteuil Asparagus 

 measures from 3 to 6 in. in circumference at 8 in. below the 

 tips ; and is better than the early sort where there is not much 

 depth of soil. Although the crops are lighter for the first few 

 years than the early variety, it remains productive much longer, 

 the stems, in some xisparagus-grounds 27 years old, being found 

 to measure from 2^ to 3 in. round. The early Argenteuil 

 Asparagus gives stems of 2f to 6 in. round at 8 in. from the tips. 

 It grows higher than the late sort, sometimes attaining a length 

 of 10 ft. It is very vigorous and cares little for richness of soil, 

 which should, however, be at least 10 in. or a foot deep, as the 

 roots rise nearly half an inch every year. It begins to yield in 

 the tliird year, and gives large crops from its sixth to its four- 



