PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' ClUB. 759 



Eev. Josepli "Wilson, Little Falls, X. J. — As often as I have passed 

 tLrougli the market-places and seen the ivJiite trash that is univers. 

 ally sold as asparagus, I have felt vexed, alike at the stupidity of the 

 gardeners, and the thoughtlessness of the buyers ; and have several 

 times remonstrated with the market-men on their improper mode of 

 gathering the asparagus, by which hundreds of tons are worse than 

 thrown away. But, probably, regarding me as an old fogy, they 

 have invariably neglected any advice. It must be known to every 

 one using asparagus, that the white part is not edible, because of its 

 toughness. All you can do with it is to suck a little of the juice and 

 then throw it to the hogs. This is altogetlier the fault of the wrong 

 mode of gathering it for use. From the appearance of the branches 

 I have seen, I conclude that as soon as the stalk appears above 

 ground a long knife is tlirust into the ground and tlie stalk cut as 

 deep down as possible. Now, that part of the plant below the 

 surface is hard and tough, and consequently is a dead loss. My plan 

 is to let the stalk grow from eight to twelve inches above ground, 

 and then to go along the bed and snap off the stalk with the fingers, 

 as tar as it is tender and will break square off. The consequence is 

 that the whole stalk is as tender as a green pea, and can all be eaten. 

 For my use I w^ould not give a cent a bunch for the white stuff, 

 however pretty the ladies may think it. My wife and daughters 

 would not cook it. They, as I do, prefer it tender and green, and 

 w^ould throw the white trash to the hogs, who are by no means com- 

 plimented for having that for their portion which even they cannot 

 perfectly masticate. Gentlemen, try my plan, and you will have 

 " asparagus as is asparagus." 



Absurd Requirements of City Consumers. 

 Some allusion being made to the practice of cutting asparagus 

 deep down and taking up much of the white, which is useless for 

 any purpose. Mr. A. S. Fuller said tliere is great need of certain 

 reforms in prevailing practices touching the marketing of vegetables, 

 and fruit. For instance, rhubarb is sent with the leaves on, and the 

 consequence is the stalks wilt five times as fast as they would were 

 the leaves removed at the time of cutting, because evaporation goes 

 on through the leaves. And yet the buyers would probably refuse 

 to take the stalks from which the leaves are removed. The fact is^ 

 the people must be educated to give up these and similar absurd- 

 notions. 



