32 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



In Queen Elizabeth's time asparagus was 

 eaten, says Gerard, " sodden in flesh-broth, 

 or boiled in faire water, and seasoned with 

 oile, vinegar, salt, and pepper, then serued at 

 mens tables for a sallade." 



At the present time it is principally served 

 to table on a toast, or ragou'd. It makes an 

 excellent soup, and the small sprue-grass 

 forms a part of most of our spring pottages. 

 It is often cut small and sent to table as a 

 substitute for green peas. 



The flowers of asparagus are found, on a 

 strict examination, to be dioecious, although 

 arranged by Linnaeus, and other botanists, as 

 hermaphrodite. Those which bear berries 

 have abortive stamina, and those which have 

 perfect stamina are destitute of pistils, or 

 have only such as are abortive. The male 

 plants throw up a far greater quantity of 

 shoots than the female, although not quite 

 equal to them in size. 



In making new beds, the males only should 

 be selected, which may be easily done by not 

 planting them from the seed-beds until they 

 have flowered. When the plants are one 

 year old, transplant them into other beds, at 

 six inches distance ; let them remain there 

 until they flower, which will be, with respect 



