436 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
plants to the country through the Society's gardens. At a place 
called New School a tomb was erected to his memory. As to 
the Douglas fir, he said there were many varieties, but the green 
kinds were the best, having harder wood. He had seen hundreds 
of trees of the Douglas fir, and he could speak as to its value. It 
was the only sweet-smelling spruce known, and its foliage, if 
squeezed into a cup of water, was a splendid antiseptic. The 
Douglas fir likes a little shade, but it should also be exposed 
somewhat, and will keep pace with the larch in growth, and, 
besides, there was no cleaner fir grown. 
In reference to Mr. Fish's remarks about the varieties of 
Douglas fir. Dr. Masteks said that was most natural, as the tree 
was found over a vast stretch of country, at all elevations, ranging 
from sea-level to 12,000 feet, and therefore was subject to many 
climatic changes. 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
By Mr. James Mason. 
[Read November 26, 1895.] 
Ln offering my experience on Asparagus culture, it must not 
be supposed that I contemplate giving a scientific or learned 
discourse ; I simply offer a few remarks and suggestions illus- 
trative or descriptive of my experience and observation during 
the greater part of an active business life as a wholesale grower 
for the London markets. 
Asparagus officinalis is a liliaceous plant, and is one of a 
large family of plants, mostly natives of Africa, generally 
distinguished by small, fine leaves, some of them being 
very beautiful in their habit of growth. The common kind, 
.1. officinalis, is considered to be indigenous to the sunny shores 
of the IMediterranean ; it has also been found wild in Western 
Europe, and on the western and south-western shores of 
I'.ngland. Its fiower is very insignificant, of a greenish-white 
colour, and is followed by a small round rod berry about the 
size of holly berries. When it has arrived at this stage of its 
•^Towth, its beautiful feathery habit makes it universally admired, 
