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ASPARAGUS.— ASPARAGUS. 



Natural order, Sarmentacece. The genus of 

 Asparagus is allied to Convallaria. In 

 botany it stands in the Hexandria Mono- 

 gynia class. 



This plant takes its name from the Greek 

 word AffTrapa-yoc, signifying a young shoot 

 before it unfolds its leaves. Gerard says, 

 " it is called in English Sperage, and likewise 

 Asparagus, after the Latin name, because 

 asparagi, or the springes heereof, are pre- 

 pared before all other plants ; for the word 

 asparagus doth properly signify the first 

 spring or sprout of euery plant, especially 

 when it be tender." 



It is evidently a native of this country, 

 for the same author observes, that " the 

 manured or garden asparagus comes up of 

 the size of the largest swan's quill ;" he 

 adds, "it is the same as the wild, but, like 

 other vegetables, was made larger by culti- 

 vation." — " Our garden asparagus groweth 



