XIII. 



ASPARAGUS AND RHUBARB. 



ASPARAGUS, one of the most delicious of all 

 vegetables, is doubly prized because it can be 

 had so early in the season. From old, well- 

 established plantings, it can be cut for at least 

 two months, or until other vegetables come 

 in to take its place. 



It is a plant anyone can grow, and it will 

 grow almost anywhere. But it does not follow 

 from this that asparagus is a plant that will 

 take care of itself. True, it will live on and on, 

 and I do not know that it would ever die out, 

 though utterly neglected, but, in order to get 

 a fine article, it is very necessary that the plant 

 should be given care and cultivation. There 

 is no vegetable that we grow that will better 

 repay good treatment. 



This vegetable seems to do best in rather 

 sandy soils, but, as has been said, it will grow 

 in all gardens, and do well if thoroughly ma- 

 nured, without much regard to the nature of 

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