THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



225 



taken up for forcing, and this will leave I 

 the permanent row four feet apart, and 

 between these any of the light summer 

 crops may be grown with benefit to 

 the asparagus, because the earth will 

 be stirred between them without da- 

 mage to their roots, and they will enjoy 

 M'hatever additional manure, solid or 

 liquid, is used in the culture. 



Another method of raising seed- 

 plants, and one, perhaps, better for a 

 small garden, is to mark out the beds 

 four and a-half feet wide with three 

 feet alleys between. Then on each 

 bed to sow four rows of seed one foot 

 apart, and of course with no intention of 

 growing anything else between them. 

 After sowing, the ground must be kept 

 clear by hand-weeding, and during 

 hot, dry weather a little shade must 

 be given by means of some loose litter 

 or green boughs, but the young plants 

 must not be injured in the slightest 



Plant them very carefully in rows 

 one foot apart, and cut with the spade 

 six inches deep. The line side of each 

 drill should be cut perpendicular, so 

 that the roots can be placed upright 

 against it, as in putting in cuttings of 

 roses. Arrange the roots very evenly 

 along the drill one foot apart, and with 

 the crowns two inches below the sur- 

 face. Spread out their fibres regu- 

 larly, and draw a little earth over 

 each as you place it, so to keep it in 

 its position, and when the row is com- 

 pleted, draw the earth over, and make 

 the surface moderately even, so that 

 you will not have to tread on that 

 part of the bed again ; then proceed 

 with the other rows, and, lastly, rake 

 the bed over, and mark the alleys de- 

 finitely, three feet wide, and nicely 

 chopped down on the edges. Any 

 carelessness in the planting will be 

 very hurtful to the crop, and above 



Water occasionally if necessary, but ! all things let no foot go on the bed 



not with liquid manure until the plants 

 have made some little progress, and 

 then give them a sprinkling of salt 

 once a month, and, as long as they 

 are growing vigoi'ously, soak them 

 every week with rather strong liquid 

 manure. 



Towards the beginning of Novem- 

 ber the herbage will die down, and it 

 must then be neatly trimmed off, and 

 two inches of well- rotted duns: spread 

 equally all over the bed. Early in 

 March let the bed be carefully forked 

 over between the rows, with great 

 care not to go too deep, and to refresh 

 and aerate the surface only. The 

 plants may now be thinned to one foot 

 apart, and another plantation made of 

 the thin rings 



This brings us to the formation of 

 a bed in the usual way, which is bj' 

 planting roots. Prepare the bed as 

 before, and let it be ready a couple of 

 months before planting; then dig it 

 over again, manure again, and dress it 

 liberally with salt. Plant towards the 

 end of March, or early in April, but 

 not before the plants liave really be- 

 gan to move. Take up the plants 

 carefully with a fork, so as not to in- 

 jure their fibres, and let them lie about 

 tlic ground as short a time as possible, 

 for the air injures their x'oots even 

 more than it does roses. 



after it is planted, for if the ground 

 once gets hardened about the plant, 

 it ceases to thrive, and is a sure failure. 

 Frequentwatering with liquid manure, 

 and a monthly dressing with salt will 

 be necessary, while the plants arc in 

 full growth, as already described. If 

 you purchase roots, give the preference 

 to those two years old, for though 

 they will move at three, and give a 

 crop at once, there is a little risk about 

 it, and as exposure to the air is bane- 

 ful, get the roots from the nearest 

 place on which you can depend for 

 them, and have all ready for planting 

 before giving the orders. 



Now we come to the more pleasant 

 part of the affair, the cutting of the 

 crop. If the plant has had very liberal 

 culture, it may be cut in the second 

 year, but not severely ; in the third 

 year it is in good bearing, and if the 

 culture has been a little poor, it ought 

 not to be cut tiU then, so there is a 

 very special reason why every neces- 

 sary care should be taken to promote 

 a strong and healthy growth. When 

 asparagus is cut for market, it must 

 be taken when it is just rising above 

 the surface, and it is then cut below, 

 and the lower portion is generally 

 sticliy; but for the private table the 

 proper way to cut it is to wait till it 

 is six inches above the ground, and 



