April 8, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
2G7 
JAPANESE VARIETIES ( Continued ). 
Position 
in 
Analysis. 
Number 
of 
times shown. 
Name. 
Date 
of Intro¬ 
duction. 
Raiser’s 
or 
Introducer's Name. 
Colour. 
5 
23 
Madame B. Rendatler . 
1877 
Delaux 
Orange, shading to yellow 
6 
22 
Thunberg. 
1881 
Yeitcb 
Pale gold yellow 
i 
21 
Elaine . 
1871 
Carey 
Pure white 
8 
20 
Agrements de la Nature . 
1881 
Delaux 
Golden yellow, shaded brown 
8 
20 
Peter the Great. 
1876 
Carey 
Lemon yellow 
9 
18 
Soleil Levant .. 
1&U 
10 
17 
Marguerite Marronch . 
1878 
Uarrouch 
Crimson, edged gold 
10 
17 
Monsieur Ardene . 
1878 
Lacroix 
Rose-lilac 
10 
17 
Monsieur Astorg. 
1883 
Delaux 
White, rose-violet centre 
11 
15 
Hiver Fleuri. 
1879 
Delaux 
Cream white, tinted rose 
12 
14 
Meg Merrilies . 
1870 
Salter 
Sulphur whi'e 
12 
14 
Monsieur Tarin . 
1883 
Delaux 
Silvery violet rose 
12 
14 
1857 
13 
13 
Fanny Boucharlat. 
1879 
Boucharlat 
White, with pink tinge 
13 
13 
Japonais . 
1878 
Delaux 
Bronze yellow 
13 
13 
Yal d’Andorre. 
1880 
Marronch 
Dull red and orange 
14 
12 
Dr. Macary . 
1878 
Dblaux 
Rose, tinted white 
14 
12 
L’Incomparable . 
1884 
Ddlaux 
Bronze, spotted crimson 
14 
12 
Monsieur Delaux . 
1877 
Delaux 
Crimson, with yellow centre 
15 
11 
Delicate creamy white 
15 
11 
Boule d’Or. 
1882 
Bernard 
Yellow, tipped bronze 
15 
11 
Triomphe de la lluedes Chalets... 
1876 
Pertuze3 
Salmon-red 
16 
9 
Madame de Sevin . 
1884 
Ddlaux 
Amaranth, lilac, and white 
16 
9 
Monsieur Henri Jacotot . 
1883 
Dhlaux 
Crimson, tipped gold 
16 
9 
John Laing . 
1881 
Delaux 
Crimson, brown-and-gold 
17 
8 
Baronne de Prailly. 
18 68 
Salter 
Rose-blush 
17 
8 
Comtesse de Beauregird. 
1868 
Salter 
Light rose 
17 
8 
Flamme de Punch . 
1883 
Delaux 
Bright orange-red 
17 
8 
Margot . 
1883 
Delaux 
Rose-chamois 
17 
8 
Monsieur Brunet. 
1879 
Lacroix 
Lilac-mauve 
17 
8 
Rosea Superba. 
1883 
Delaux 
Rose-lilac, shaded chamois 
18 
7 
Belle Paule . 
1881 
Marrouch 
White, edged rose 
19 
6 
Red Gauntlet . 
1876 
Carey 
Dark crimson 
19 
6 
Sarnia . 
1876 
Carey 
White, shaded violet rose 
20 
5 
Balmoreau . 
1878 
Ddlaux 
Rose-purple 
20 
5 
Cry Kang. 
1868 
Salter 
Rose-magenta 
20 
5 
Ethel. 
1871 
20 
5 
Golden Dragon . 
1867 
Salter 
Bright yellow 
20 
5 
James Salter . 
1869 
Salter 
Mauve 
20 
5 
Monsieur Moussillac . 
1883 
Drlaux 
Deep crimson-and-gold 
20 
5 
Parasol. 
1879 
Lacroix 
Brown-amber 
21 
4 
Albert de Nurios. 
1882 
Ddlaux 
Reddish-crimson 
21 
4 
Fernand Feral. 
1881 
Dblaux 
Rose-mauve and cream. 
21 
4 
Madlle. Moulise. 
1878 
Lacroix 
Sulphur-white 
21 
4 
Mrs. Mabood . 
1882 
Mahood 
Cream-white 
21 
4 
Mary Major. 
1882 
Salter 
Pale rose, shading to white 
21 
4 
Monsieur A. Vilmorin . 
1885 
Ddlaux 
Orange-crimson, shaded gold 
21 
4 
Oracle . 
1870 
Salter 
Rose-purple 
21 
4 
Souroe d’Or . 
1882 
Delaux 
Orange, shaded gold 
11 
4 
Sultan . 
1870 
Salter 
Rose-purple 
Remarks. 
Synonymous with 
Curiosity. 
(China). 
Imported from Japan. 
Synonymous with Albert. 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
Determined some time since to make a trial of the different 
varieties of Asparagus, I procured seed of all the varieties named by 
seedsmen, and tried them in the same soil and under the same 
mode of cultivation. The seed was sown in rows a foot apart 
early in April, and the seedlings were transplanted when a year old 
in rows 3 feet apart and 1 foot asunder in the rows on ground that 
had previously been trenched and well manured. The planting 
was effected by taking out a sloping trench on both sides the 
stretched line, and the plants being placed astride the ridge, and 
the roots spread out straight and evenly in the furrows, the sharp 
ridge being knocked off so as to form a seat for the plants, and 
when the soil was returned the crowns were covered with 2 inches 
of sou. They were planted when beginning to push fresh shoots, 
and the ground over the rows was mulched with fresh farmyard 
manure. The rows were kept free from weeds, and the ground salted 
in spring and again about June, receiving the usual pricking and 
manuring in winter, and in other respects treated the same a? 
Asparagus land usually is, with the difference that a good mulching 
of rough manure was given in early summer between the rows. 
In the third year the difference between the varieties became 
strongly marked. I he Early Giant Purple Argenteuil had much 
t le larger spread of “ grass,” being double that of Connover’s 
Colossal, and Giant or Battersea was also superior in quantity of 
grass to Colossal, which meant crowns and corresponding heads for 
cuttmg in spring. Late Giant Purple Argenteuil differs only from 
the Early Argenteuil in being a little later. The Early Giant 
i urple Argenteuil pushed heads ten days or a fortnight in advance 
ot the other, and the heads were large, very many more in number, 
and they were remarkable for bright purple tip-, an evidence of 
high flavour. Connover’s Colossal produced its heads sparingly 
though in succession over a lengthened period, but the Argenteuil 
seemed to give its heads in quicker succession, and similar remarks 
apply to the Late Argenteuil, the heads of these varieties being 
given more together. Giant afforded its smaller heads but in 
greater profusion and in better succession than Connover’s Colossal, 
the latter having pale-coloured heads, and less highly flavoured. Of 
the Giant or Battersea there were two distinct types—one had pale- 
coloured heads, and the other much deeper purple, and whilst the 
former were rounded the other is decidedly pointed. These Giant 
Purple Argenteuils are evidently selections of Battersea, and Con¬ 
nover’s is only an enlarged edition of the light-coloured form of 
Battersea, just as the latter itself developed into giant form from 
careful selections of the most highly cultivated indigenous plant. 
The different forms of Asparagus are all unquestionably of one 
type, yet even in a bed of plants from seed of the common or 
English Asparagus we may note some marked by greater vigour,, 
earlier in making growth, and in affording various degrees of colour 
in the heads, as well as dissimilarity in other respects. Selections 
may be made to represent at least four varieties from any batch of 
common seedling Asparagus, there being (1) pale-coloured and 
rounded heads, (2) purpie-coloured and pointed heads, and both 
these admit of subdivision into early and late varieties. It is much 
the best plan to accept the higher forms of this most esteemed of 
spring vegetables, and which the seedsman and cultivator alike are 
benefited in selecting and continuing. “ Business ” will outlive any 
petty prej udices ; there is no standing still in these days. 
Never think of growing Asparagus in heavy soil with a view to 
