158 GARDENING- 



Vegetables which have been long cultivated have 

 in general many varieties; but to this law the as- 

 paragus appears to be an exception, having, as we 

 believe, but two, and these differing from each other 

 only in volume. They are found growing sponta- 

 neously in high northern latitudes, near the mouths 

 of great rivers, where the soil is annually covered 

 with a new coat of alluvial matter. The natural 

 life of an individual plant does not exceed five years ; 

 but, left undisturbed in its native bed, it rises in the 

 spring, ripens its seeds in the summer, and in au- 

 tumn sheds them on the soft and rich surface which 

 the spring floods have prepared for them : and in 

 this way continues to propagate the race from one 

 century to another. 



These facts could not have been either long ob- 

 served or much considered, without suggesting the 

 kind of treatment which would be most proper for 

 the plant when transferred to an artificial bed ; yet 

 the modes indicated for this purpose have been very 

 different, and, like other things of even less conse- 

 quence, have given rise to much and warm discus- 

 sion. Of these disputed points the principal are, 

 whether sowing or planting gives the most profit; 

 whether plants of one, of two, or of three years 

 are to be preferred; whether the seedbed should 

 be as rich, or less so than the plantation ; and, last- 

 ly, whether this (the plantation) should be formed 

 on the surface of the earth in its natural state, or 

 on an excavation filled up with new and better ma- 

 terials. 



The first of these questions appears to us to turn 

 principally on convenience. If we can postpone the 

 use of the plant for a year or two, sowing is to be 

 preferred; because the crop it gives (other things 

 being equal), though later in coming, is more abun- 

 dant, of better quality, and of longer duration ; but 

 if our supply must be prompt, planting is best, for 

 by this mode we no doubt soonest obtain the fruit, 



