Food Value and Chemical Analysis. A chemical analysis of the 

 fresh asparagus stalks shows the following component factors : 



This evidences that the general impression as to the great food value 



- of asparagus is erroneous. In fact it is of but secondary value, but com- 

 ing as the first spring vegetable, when the system and appetite demand 

 fresh foods, it fills a demand and its use should be encouraged. In its 



^cooked condition it is extremely easy and quick of digestion. 



Another use of asparagus is in the production of a fermented alcoholic 



- beverage known as ' ' asparagus gin. ' ' This is a new industry recently 

 introduced in California. The fresh stalks are used in the process. 

 Some 50,000 pounds were used in this way in 1915. In Europe a 

 beverage having some of the characteristics of coffee is made from the 

 ripe asparagus berries. So far as known, the process has not been tried 

 in this country. 



For many years and until comparatively recently, the roots, sprouts 

 and berries were held to have valuable medicinal properties. The roots 

 were used as an aperient and the sprouts and berries as a diuretic. A 

 crystalline substance called "asparagine" was obtained from the plant 

 and widely used by the medical profession in diseases of the urinary 

 organs. Its use is no longer recognized by the profession, as other 

 specifics have proven of greater value. 



Production in California. Asparagus can be grown in every county 

 in California, and it should be a factor in the "truck patch" of every 

 farmer and suburban resident in the State, not only as a valuable addi- 

 tion to the food resources, but also on account of the ease of cultivation 

 and good returns it gives for the small amount of space and labor it 

 requires. 



Commercially it is grown as an adjunct to a majority of market 

 gardens, the output being marketed locally. No records are available of 

 this production, but in the aggregate it amounts to considerable. 



In the Imperial Valley quite a large acreage has been planted to 

 asparagus of the green or palmetto variety. As yet these fields are not 

 in full bearing, although a considerable quantity from that locality is 

 shipped both to southern California and to eastern markets. Its season 

 begins about ten days earlier than that of northern California. There 

 ~^ seems to be no disposition to raise cannery stock that is, the white 

 / varieties presumably owing to the absence of any canneries to utilize 

 J the output. As yet the production has not assumed proportions suffi- 

 ciently large to warrant specializing in railroad and express companies 

 records, and consequently no figures are available as to output. 



