Qii^^ries and Amii^ers. 613 



without having ever sueceeded in getting it above the ordinary size and 

 quality. Perhaps some of your readers in the neighbourhood of Ports- 

 mouth will fixvour us with some information respecting this kind of 

 broccoli. — A.N, March 3. 1832. 



Prussian Asparagus. — Seeing in this market abundance of Prussian 

 asparagus, I send you threepence worth, and shall be glad if you will let 

 me know how you like it. I have had some boiled, and placed upon a 

 toast with melted butter ; but none of my family admired it, nor do I like 

 it myself.— J F. W. C. Bath, June 5. 1832. 



We hkd long been curious to know what this Prussian asparagus was, 

 and we now find it to be the flov/er-spikes, when about 9 in. long, of the 

 Ornithogaluin pyrenaicum L. This plant is found wild in pastures between 

 Bath and Bradford ; between Bath and Warminster ; three miles from 

 Bristol, on the way to Bath; near Charleton, in Somersetshire; and half 

 a mile from Chichester, Southgate, in a meadow. It appears to be gathered 

 in the fields, and brought to the market at Bath. There were about a 

 hundred spikes in the bundle sent us by our correspondent : we cannot 

 Bay that we lilied them, though others of our family did; and, indeed, as 

 they appear to be perfectly wholesome, the liking or disliking is a matter 

 of no consequence ; for there can be no doubt that habit would render 

 tbera as agreeable as the cultivated asparagus. Were this the case, there 

 would be a great advantage in cultivating the Ornithogalum ; because 

 depriving it of the part to be eaten would strengthen the plant, instead of 

 weakening it, as in the case of the common asparagus. As 0. pyrenaicum 

 is by no means scarce, we hope some of our readers will try what can be 

 done with it. We have no doubt the whole plant may be increased in 

 size by proper cultivation. We are equally clear that the flower-stalks 

 of other species of Ornithogalum, such as O. pyramidale and nutans, 

 might be eaten ; and the bulbs of umbellatum, it will be recollected, 

 foi'med the "doves' dung" of scripture, and have been eaten from time im- 

 memorial by the Persians. Probably many of the hexandrous plants, both 

 stalks and roots, might form edible vegetables as agreeable as those which 

 we are now in the practice of cultivating. — Cond. 



The Culture of the Sweet Potato. — Sir, 1 beg to second the enquiries of 

 Signor Manetti regarding the culture of the Convolvulus Batatas in Eng- 

 land, and to urge on yoiu: correspondents who may be competent thereto, 

 that they will communicate speedily their knowledge on the subject ; 

 also that you, on your part, will afford an early insertion to their an- 

 swers in your Magazine. I have for some time past purposed experiment- 

 alising on the culture of this plant, but shall be glad to know what has been 

 already done, and where tubers of desirable varieties may be obtained. 



Certain Melons groiun in Italy, — I have, at the same time, a favour to 

 ask of the Signor Manetti himself; and, should this meet his eye, he will, 

 perhaps, when he is sending to England, gratify a wish I entertain to pro- 

 cure seeds of the undermentioned melons, by forwarding for me, to j our 

 care, a few of each. I trust he will continue his highly interesting com- 

 munications. The melons I am in want of are: the Malamocesini melon, 

 stem 2 or 3 in. thick, and very knobby : the Rampaghini, or climbing me- 

 lon ; and the Bucharian melon. They are all described in p. 448., as grown 

 at Venice. — I am, Sir, yours, &c. J. C. K. Levant Lodge, Aug. 11. 1832, 



Agricidtural Horses fed on Barley. — I have heard, and believe, that there 

 is a practice in Norfolk of feeding agricultural horses on barley which is 

 wetted, and allowed to sprout in heaps. I remember that, some time since, 

 the exchequer attempted to put a stop to this practice, it being deemed 

 dangerous to the malt duty ; and that the Norfolk people, at the head of 

 whom was that most venerable agriculturist, Mr. Coke, resisted, and effec- 

 tually, the exchequer's attempt. Can you give any detailment of this 



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