^7 



don market ; and it is estimated that, in the parish 

 of Mortlake alone, there are generally about 80 acres 

 under this crop. One grower there (Biggs) has 

 sometimes had 40 acres under Asparagus at one time. 

 A great deal is also grown near Deptford ; and one 

 grower there (Edmonds) has had 80 acres entirely 

 under this crop — a thing which must appear almost 

 incredible to those who have not witnessed the loads 

 of this article daily heaped on the green-stalls of the 

 metropolis for the space of nearly three months. In 

 this country, Dutch Asparagus was preferred at the 

 end of the 1 7th century ; and this variety is still 

 distinguished for affording very thick shoots. In a 

 garden formed at Dunbar, in the very beginning of 

 the 18th century, by Provost Fall (a name well known 

 m the mercantile world). Asparagus was for many 

 years cultivated with ujicommon success. The variety 

 used was the red-topped, and it was brought from 

 Holland. The soil of the garden is little better than 

 sea sand. This was trenched two feet deep, and a 

 thick layer of sea-weed was put in the bottom of the 

 trench, and well pressed together and beat down. 

 This was the only manure used, either at the first 

 planting or at subsequent dressings. There was an 

 inexhaustible supply of the article generally at hand, 

 as the back-door of the garden opens to the sea- 

 shore. {Edinburgh Encyc.) 



It has now become an established and favoured 



