I
Am Beginning To Doubt Whether My Belief On The Matter Has Not Been
The Product Of Insular Ignorance And Idolatrous Self-Worship.
It
may be that a peach should be a combination of an apple and a
turnip.
"My great objection to your country, sir," said another,
"is that you have got no vegetables." Had he told me that we had
got no sea-board, or no coals, he would not have surprised me more.
No vegetables in England! I could not restrain myself altogether,
and replied by a confession "that we 'raised' no squash." Squash
is the pulp of the pumpkin, and is much used in the States, both as
a vegetable and for pies. No vegetables in England! Did my
surprise arise from the insular ignorance and idolatrous self-
worship of a Britisher, or was my American friend laboring under a
delusion? Is Covent Garden well supplied with vegetables, or is it
not? Do we cultivate our kitchen-gardens with success, or am I
under a delusion on that subject? Do I dream, or is it true that
out of my own little patches at home I have enough, for all
domestic purposes, of peas, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, celery,
beet-root, onions, carrots, parsnips, turnips, sea-kale, asparagus,
French beans, artichokes, vegetable marrow, cucumbers, tomatoes,
endive, lettuce, as well as herbs of many kinds, cabbages
throughout the year, and potatoes? No vegetables! Had the
gentleman told me that England did not suit him because we had
nothing but vegetables, I should have been less surprised.
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