EXPERIMENTAL HORTICULTURE. 
451 
care should be taken to select land of uniform quality, for when, 
as sometimes happens, the experiments are conducted on lands 
that were cropped and manured in several different ways in the 
previous year, the results are, if not actually misleading, of no 
practical value. It should be obvious that the results obtained 
from land that differs in its area as much as does that of a group 
of allotments cannot give trustworthy information, but the fact 
is sometimes overlooked and some reference to the point becomes 
necessary. 
Well worthy of consideration is the question whether some¬ 
thing might not be done to improve some existing races of plants. 
For example, experiments made with a view to ascertain whether 
Asparagus plantations might not be rendered more productive 
and profitable than they now are, and whether the Blackberry 
could not be so improved as to be cultivated with profit, would 
be of much interest, and they might prove of far-reaching 
importance to cultivators of land. 
At the present time Asparagus beds, both in private and 
market gardens, are formed without any reference to the seed¬ 
bearing propensities of the plants employed. Asparagus plants 
differ materially in seed production, and if we examine a planta¬ 
tion formed in accordance with orthodox practice it will be found 
that some of the plants are barren, while others have light or 
heavy crops of seed. It will also be observed that the vigour of 
the plants is in inverse ratio to the crop of seed they are bearing. 
The barren plants will on examination be found to be producing 
a forest of stout growths rising to a height of 5 ft. or 6 ft.; those 
producing light crops of berries will have growths of more 
moderate stature ; while those heavily seeded will be making 
such a weakly growth as to indicate clearly a prospect of only 
very spindly heads in the following season. I am impressed with 
the conviction that were we to grow the plants a second year 
before using them in the formation of beds, and in the interval 
eliminate all that show signs of seed-bearing, we should in a few 
years obtain Asparagus so improved as to come into line with 
the finest of the produce from France. This is a questionHhat 
can only be conclusively solved by carefully conducted experi¬ 
ments ; and I hope that at no distant date the matter will be 
fully investigated. 
Not less important is it that an endeavour should be made 
