CHAP. I. CULINARY VEGETABLES. 121 



Asparagus-beds wear out, it is said, in three or four years' 

 time ; but this depends much, I believe, on the way in which 

 they are treated. If at the commencement of the growing 

 season they be well enriched with manure, and afterwards 

 constantly well watered and the plants not cut too severely for 

 use, they will last unimpaired probably for very many years. 

 Salt is usually recommended as a fine manure for Asparagus, 

 but I have been told by one of our best practical gardeners in 

 this country that he has applied it without perceiving any 

 benefit from it. 



Asparagus racemosus. 

 Soot Moolee. 



Of the blanched young shoots of this plant the natives 

 at Dacca prepare a very agreeable conserve, in the way of 

 preserved Ginger. 



DICTYOGENS. 



DIOSCOEEACE^E. 



Dioscorea, 



YAMS. 



Dr. Koxburgh describes as many as seven eatable Yams, but 

 not more than three or four can be accounted of any value for 

 the table ; and where, moreover, Potatoes are so plentiful 

 throughout the year as they are in Calcutta, there seems little 

 inducement for the cultivation of Yams. 



1. D, globosa Choopree Aloo. This Dr. Koxburgh states to 

 be "most esteemed of all Yams among the natives, as well as 

 Europeans." I cannot say that tubers I have purchased from 

 the bazar under the name of Choopree Aloo seem to merit this 

 distinction. Others appear to me to be superior. 



2. D. alata Khum Aloo. This is accounted second in order 

 of merit. 



3. D. purpurea Rukto Gurdniya Aloo. This apparently is 

 the Yam brought by Mr. M'Murray, gardener to the Agri-Hor- 

 ticultural Society, from the Mauritius, concerning which he 

 states that it is as much cultivated in the Mauritius as Potatoes 



