204 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



268. Importance. Asparagus is universally regarded 

 as one of the most important vegetables. The home gar- 

 den is not complete without it, and our markets are de- 

 manding a larger supply every year. It is grown in 

 nearly all parts of the civilized world, but in France, Ger- 

 many, Holland, England and the United States enormous 

 quantities are produced for commercial purposes. It is 

 said that more than 3,000 people are employed in the 

 asparagus plantations near Paris. In the United States 

 the enterprise has been developed to the greatest extent 

 in New Jersey, California and New York, while it is an 

 important crop in nearly every other state. 



From early March until August this vegetable may be 

 found on our city markets, and the forced crop is available 

 to some extent throughout the winter. Nearly every- 

 body enjoys this vegetable. ^Formerly it was regarded 

 as a luxury; now it is a necessity. Notwithstanding the 

 large increase in acreage, thousands of towns and small 

 cities are poorly supplied with this delicious and whole- 

 some vegetable. 



The flavor and quality of asparagus may be preserved 

 remarkably well by canning. Immense quantities are 

 grown for this purpose, especially in California and on 

 Long Island. For canning blanched "grass" is preferred, 

 and large size of shoots counts for just as much in getting 

 good prices as when they are sold on our markets. The 

 factories often purchase by weight, paying from $80 to 

 $200 a ton. 



269. Varieties. Nurserymen and seedsmen catalog 

 many kinds, but there are no complete botanical descrip- 

 tions of American varieties. It is doubtful whether we 

 have more than three or four distinct varieties, although 

 there are doubtless many strains showing more or less 

 variation. 



PALMETTO is unquestionably the leading American 



