396 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of this wholesome spring delicacy have been laid down during 

 the past few years in places where the soil and situation are 

 favourable. The so-called " grass " has become known by the 

 locality from which it is produced, such as Worcester Grass, 

 Cambridge Grass, Sandwich Grass, &c. Though our local 

 Middlesex growers still bear the palm for excellence, I may 

 perhaps be excused if I quote the Worcester or Evesham field as 

 a sample of progress. About twenty-five years ago certain 

 gardeners in the Evesham Valley began to grow Asparagus as a 

 market vegetable. These growers were happily brought into 

 touch with Co vent Garden salesmen, who taught them to pro- 

 perly grade and pack the bundles for the market trade. The 

 prices proving remunerative, and the demand largely exceeding 

 the supply, a considerable development of the industry followed, 

 and the railway, waking up to the importance of encouraging a 

 good customer, granted better facilities for transit. It is now 

 estimated that there are about 4,000 acres of Asparagus in this 

 district alone. Each acre in full bearing will give 40,000 sticks, 

 or 400 bundles, of which about two-thirds come to London. 

 These figures are a moderate computation, and are small com- 

 pared with our importations of foreign Grass. 



Celery is another example of extended cultivation. The 

 increasing value of Celery as a vegetable, either cooked or raw, 

 has no doubt had a stimulating effect upon its production. In 

 Lincolnshire many hundred acres are grown for market ; indeed, 

 it may be regarded as a regular alternative crop with other 

 market vegetables in the black soil belt of the Trent Valley. It 

 affords another illustration of the railway system as an artery of 

 food products, beneficial alike to grower, consumer, and carrier. 

 As much as fifty tons of celery a day is brought to London 

 by the Great Northern Railway in the season. 



Peas. — The cultivation of this most important summer 

 vegetable has made great strides, particularly in the Essex 

 district. Our earliest Peas come from Kent and other southern 

 counties, and our latest from Yorkshire. The season lasts from 

 the end of May or beginning of June till August. The 

 establishment of the Great Eastern Railway Company's depot 

 for Essex garden fruit has more than doubled the tonnage of 

 Peas brought by them into the London markets, and opened up 

 a great outlet for other kinds of market produce. 



