'94 Gn the Cultivation of »^sparagiis. 



great degree of perfection. The cultivation of asparagus is not 

 •sufficiently understood — and hence the abundance of poor qual- 

 ity which is to be found in our markets. New beds, properly 

 made, the soil sufficiently nourishing, the roots well selected, 

 and their after culture duly attended to, would throw up numerous 

 spears of immense size. But the roots are too frequently planted 

 in a shallow soil, and afterwards the beds receive but little care, 

 when they soon lose their vigor, and produce weak shoots. 



It is from a knowledge of this fact that we have the giard and 

 'Common kinds of asparagus, the former of which, so called in 

 the vicinity of Boston, we now believe to be wholly owing to 

 ■cultivation. Since we penned the article before alluded to, in 

 our second volume, we have been convinced of this in more 

 than one instance. By this we do not, by any means, intend to 

 be understood as saying that we shall not, at some future time, 

 hsve what may truly be denominated giant asparagus, or, in oth- 

 «r words, that asparagus may not be very greatly improved from 

 «eed, by skilfid practice. Horticulture has made such rapid 

 strides, particularly in Britain, of late years, that we know 

 not where improvement will find its bounds. A few years, or, 

 if not in so short a time, another century, may find the gardens 

 at that time producing asparagus twice or three times as large 

 as that which has been denominated the giant of our gar- 

 dens. It is not at all unreasonable to suppose this, as we have 

 already seen, in our day, as great, or more important, results in 

 other vegetables, as well as fruits, under the hands of skilful 

 practitioners. 



When we drew up the communication of IMr. Pond's, from a 

 few notes furnished us, we did not inquire from whence he 

 liad procured his seed. We saw ourselves that the asjDaragus 

 was extremely large and handsome; and as he pronounced it the 

 giant^ we at once attributed its size to the peculiar kind, rather 

 than to its vigor. But we have since known beds which have been 

 planted from his seedling roots, which possess no stronger claims 

 to be called giant than that which has been called, in distinction, 

 the common sort. Ready are we always to afford our aid in the 

 dissemination of any superior new variety of fruit or vegetable; 

 and equally ready shall we be to denounce any inferior sort, as 

 well as all attempts at making neiv names to old varieties, from 

 interested motives. Let all who wish to procure fine giant as- 

 paragus pay the same attention to the planting of the roots as 

 has been directed by Mr. Walker, or practised by Mr. Pond, 

 and we can assure them that, upon the care bestowed in planting, 

 the choice of soil and situation, the age of the roots, &;c., will 

 depend the procuring of giant or dwarf asparagus. 



Mr. Walker has grown asparagus for a long period; and 

 although he has not, that we are aware of, made any cxhi- 



