20 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



spring. The shoots are very notably thicker than those of the 

 parent plant, the head is slightly pointed, and the scales with 

 which it is covered are very closely set, overlapping each other. 

 It is a little earlier than the parent variety. 



Late Giant Argenteuil Asparagus. — This variety is not 

 inferior in appearance to the Early one, but it does not commence 

 to yield quite so soon. It is called Late, not so much on account 

 of this difference as because it continues to produce fine large 

 shoots when those of the Early kind have become much thinner 

 than they were at the beginning of the season, and shoots of the 

 Late kind are used to set off the bundles. Experienced cultivators 

 are able to distinguish this variety from the preceding one by the 

 appearance of the point of the shoot, which in this kind has the 

 scales parted from each other like those of the Artichoke, instead 

 of being, as it were, glued down upon each other. 



The Germans have a great number of varieties of Asparagus, 

 under the names of Great Giant, Large Erfurt, Early Darmstadt, 

 Large Darmstadt, Large Early White, etc. All of these appear to 

 us to come very close to the Giant Dutch Purple and the White 

 German Asparagus, both of which, as we have seen, are much 

 about the same thing. 



In England and America the variety named Conover's Colossal 

 is very much extolled. From what we know of it, we do not think 

 it superior to the Argenteuil varieties. [The difference in kinds is 

 very often the result merely of difference in cultivation. There is a 

 difference between the Early Argenteuil and the Late Argenteuil, and 



the Early variety should 

 be encouraged by English 

 growers, who should try to 

 supply their own markets 

 as early as possible. — R.] 



BALM 



Melissa officinalis, L. 



LabiatcE. 



French, Melisse citronelle, Melisse 

 officinale. German, Citronen- 

 Melisse. Dtitch, Citroen-Melisse. 

 Dajiish, Hjertensfryd. Italian, 

 Melissa. Spanish, Toronjil, 

 Citronella. 



Balm (plant, '> branch, \ natural size). 



Native of South Europe. 

 — Perennial. — A plant 

 growing about I J ft. high, 

 with numerous erect and 

 spreading branches and 

 leaves of pure green ; 



