ASPARAGINOUS PLANTS. 277 



richness of soil. It is propagated by seed, which is 

 sown broad-cast in spring ; and at the same period 

 of the ensuing year the young plants are trans- 

 planted to beds prepared for their reception, and, 

 where they are allowed to remain three or four years 

 before the tender shoots are cut for use. When these 

 are from two to four inches above the ground, they 

 are cut two or three inches below the surface. In 

 cutting, care is taken to leave to each plantule or 

 stool one or two shoots, to grow up into flower and 

 seed, or otherwise the roots would perish. Under 

 good culture, the same plants will continue to fur- 

 nish annual crops during twelve or fourteen years. 

 It is estimated by a practical gardener that five 

 square poles of ground, planted with sixteen hundred 

 plants, will yield, during the season, from six to eight 

 score heads daily.* 



Asparagus contains little or no nutriment, but it is 

 a mild vegetable, and pleasant to the taste. Though 

 this plant is much cultivated in places where the 

 luxuries of horticulture are abundant, its use is little 

 known in situations remote from populous towns ; 

 of this the following anecdote will serve as an illus- 

 tration. About the close of the last century the pro- 

 prietor of a considerable estate in one of the midland 

 counties of Scotland, who prided himself upon his 

 general knowledge and uniform consistency, had 

 passed the meridian of life without ever having seen 

 asparagus. When he did at length meet with some 

 at a dinner in a neighbouring town, he selected the 

 white end, and having with some difficulty cut off a 

 piece, he subjected it to rather a laborious process 

 of mastication. A gentle hint was given that he had 

 taken the wrong end ; but disliking to confess igno- 

 rance in the matter, he assured the company that he 

 always ate asparagus in that fashion, and for the sake 



* Abercrombie. 

 VOL. xv. 24 



