i88i.] ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 149 



effective of all the kinds is E. grandifiorum, a robust large-leaved 

 species, which, if struck from cuttings early, and planted out in a 

 sunny border in June, will now give plants 2 feet high, and as much 

 in diameter, its slightly drooping branches being clothed with snowy 

 clusters of flowers. We used to plunge these plants, Solanums, Mar- 

 guerites, and Salvias, out in their pots, but now find planting out 

 cuttings a better plan. Towards the end of September we cut round 

 each plant pretty closely with a draining-tool to form a ball ; afterwards, 

 if the weather is hot and dry, we water freely, and in a few days new 

 roots begin to appear around the ball. The plants are then lifted and 

 potted up for the conservatory, and the results are most satisfactory 

 always. F. W. B. 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



No vegetable cultivated in our gardens is more valued than Asparagus. 

 It may not be found in many small gardens, but it is quite indispensable 

 in every garden of any importance. Its successful culture is not a recent- 

 ly acquired accomplishment. Probably many of your readers may think 

 in this respect we are going back rather than forward; as many Aspar- 

 agus beds might have been found twenty years ago that would equal 

 any to be seen at the present time, if the latter are not decidedly in- 

 ferior to the former. If such is the case, there are no good reasons why 

 it should be so, as our appliances in every shape, including tools, man- 

 ures, and knowledge, are all supposed to be improved ; but probably 

 less attention is paid now to making the beds and preparing the ground 

 than many old hands were in the habit of devoting to this part of its 

 culture. No plants are easier raised from seed than Asparagus, and 

 it will grow readily on any good piece of soil which has been merely 

 stirred and manured on the surface ; but its progress here will not be 

 lasting, and after a year or two the crop will gradually dwindle away, 

 until it is not worth the ground it stands on. Roots which we have 

 seen bearing well when about twenty years old, and that on the same 

 piece of ground on which they were first planted, had the ground thor- 

 oughly prepared for their reception at first ; and this must still be the 

 case if good and lasting results are desired. Although Asparagus is 

 often thought to be particular as to soil, it really is not; but whether the 

 soil be heavy or light it should be well prepared, and success in most 

 cases is sure to follow. We have had quantities of old sand carted to 

 make " natural " Asparagus beds, and devoted a good deal of attention 

 to their formation too ; but the result was no better from this than we 

 had from others planted in ordinary garden-soil well tilled. A very 

 wet place or soil for the bed or plantation must be avoided, but any 

 ordinary dry land may be selected ; and the soil should not be less than 

 2 feet deep — if it is 3 all the better ; and in beginning to make it 

 ready for a permanent Asparagus plantation, it should be trenched 



