I30 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



American gardens, green stalks, if they are tender, 

 are counted better in flavor than the blanched 

 ones. 



The shoots are continuously cut from the un- 

 covering of the bed in April until new peas appear 

 in the markets, and are ready in the gardens. 

 Then the asparagus has a chance to grow unmo-? 

 lested. The bed is soon covered with a dense 

 bramble of plants that bear their seeds, and thus 

 seed the ground under them. The full develop- 

 ment of the leafy tops stores the roots and crowns 

 with reserve food, which is drawn upon to make 

 the cutting good in the asparagus season that fol- 

 lows the rest period of winter. 



California produces a tremendous asparagus 

 crop, that goes fresh to local markets, or is canned 

 for shipment to eastern cities. 



SWISS CHARD 



A race of beets is known to gardeners under the 

 name Swiss chard. Like the ornamental beet, its 

 root is small and tough, and the leaves are the 

 part for which the plants are grown. Thick, 

 tender leaf stalks branch out into the web of the 

 leaf, and this also is tender and edible as the leaf 

 of spinach. Some people prefer to cook stalks 



