52 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



counting twenty years of full crops, for although we only 

 begin to pull at the end of three years, the stool is just as 

 likely to last twenty-four years as twenty. We have also not 

 taken into consideration # the choice early bundles, which 

 often sell for 12s. or 15s. at the beginning of the season 

 instead of Is. 7id., besides which we must deduct the 

 expenses of gathering for the first three years. 



Comparison between Dutch & Argenteuil Asparagus. 



A great number of persons do not yet seem to properly 

 understand the difference between the Argenteuil Asparagus 

 and that of other celebrated localities. The following are 

 some comparative calculations which will enable them to 

 judge of the merits of the case. The experiments of which 

 the figures are the outcome were made on thirty-five stools of 

 the same age of each variety. The plants were reared in 

 the same soil and were seven years old, the gatherings being- 

 made under precisely the same conditions. 



Argenteuil Asparagus. Dutch Asparagus. 



(Early. ) First gathering made April 20. 



First gathering made April 3. Produce of a stool during forty- 

 Produce of a single stool during two days — 24 heads, weighing 

 forty-two days — 29 heads, weigh- 605 grs. (say 1 lb. 5J oz.). 

 ing 1540 grs. (say 3 lb. 6J oz.). Price at the market rate in the 

 Prices at the market rate in the Paris market. 



Paris market. . 605 grs. (say 1 lb. 5 J oz.) repre- 



1540 grs/ (say 3 lb. 6| oz.) re- sents about the fifth of an ordi- 



presents half a bundle, a good nary bundle of from 3 kilos, to 



bundle weighing from 3 kilos, to 3 kilos. 200 (say 6J lb. to 6| lb.). 



.3 kilos. 200 (say 6 \ lb. to 6| lb.). The heads were none of them 



Amongst these heads there were very large. There were eight 



ten small, eleven medium, and very small, ten medium, and six 



eight large, which taken at the somewhat large. The ordinary 



ordinary price would have sold price for a similar quality would 



at the rate of 3 fr. (2s. 4|d.) per be 1 fr. 50 c. per bundle (say 



bundle, or 1 fr. 50 c. (Is. 2Jd.) ; Is. 2Jd.) ; the value of the crop 



but as the latter do not fetch so would therefore be 30 c. (3d.), 

 much as the former, this price 

 must be reduced to 1 fr. (9Jd.) 



Wishing to push our experiments farther, we undertook 

 an investigation into the quantity of eatable substance con- 



