Asparagus. 123 



its introduction among us ; but, although 

 those imported from Spanish ports hither 

 were distinguished from such as came from 

 America, both doubtless were of a common 

 Virginian parentage. In the earlier part of 

 the seventeenth century, however, the Spanish 

 potato was still preferred to those of English 

 growth. 



In the' most ancient bills of fare many 

 products of the kitchen-garden, which have 

 long acquired a commonplace character, were 

 still deficient, as asparagus, sea-kale, the 

 cucumber, the artichoke, and, among fruits, 

 the melon, the gooseberry, and the currant ; 

 unless, owing to the obscure nomenclature, 

 they evade our recognition. 



But the asparagus was extensively grown 

 in the seventeenth century, and the cultivated 

 sort seems to have been brought from 

 Holland, although it was found wild in 

 Worlidge's time (1677) in many places, in- 

 cluding some meadows near Bristol; "wild 

 or at least some bastard kind of them," are 

 his words, and he adds, " But our more fair 

 and large, usually called Dutch Asparagus, 



