i88i.] ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 151 



stand 2 feet apart each way. Many add a foot more to this, but we 

 would only advise this distance where ground was plentiful. The 

 wider the plants stand, the finer does the produce generally become ; 

 but fairly good produce, which need be despised by no one, may be 

 had from plants at 24 inches and 30 inches apart. The soil having 

 been previously well prepared, no great digging need take place at 

 planting time. On the site of each plant, a patch of soil about 1 foot 

 square, and three inches deep, should be taken out with the spade. 

 The roots should then be placed singly in these with all their strong 

 fibres spread out, putting the soil gently back over them again, and 

 finishing up with treading firmly all around the crown, but not on 

 the top of it. Row after row may be put in like this, and the soil 

 levelled down after all has been finished. The young growths will 

 soon show where the rows are ; but as many may not be able to afford 

 so much ground to remain empty between them, a single row of 

 Spinach, Lettuce, or any close-growing crop may be run between each 

 row of Asparagus. This may be done for two or three years after 

 planting, and then it is better to leave the Asparagus in full possession 

 of the ground. For some time after planting, the roots will require 

 no more attention ; but as soon as weeds appear they must be destroyed 

 with the hoe, and frequent hoeings throughout the season will keep the 

 ground clean and open. Somehow or other Asparagus beds or plan- 

 tations are always inclined to become very dirty and weedy ; it adds 

 much to the wellbeing of the plant, therefore, if the weeds are never 

 allowed to make any headway. As the situation of the Asparagus 

 plantation should always be open, the young stems the first and 

 second years may probably be blown over : when they are seen to 

 go in this way, a stake about 2 feet high should be put to each, and 

 one or two ties will keep them secure. Each season as the canes 

 ripen and wither they should be cut over. A small handful of salt 

 shaken round each plant, and then a light covering of manure, should 

 be placed over all. About the end of March, when the heads are 

 beginning to push up, the manure may either be cleared off or left on. 

 We generally leave it on, and another handful of salt is thrown over 

 each plant as growth is commencing. The same dressing may be 

 given them when cutting the produce ceases. No manure is better 

 than salt for Asparagus, and the applications of it we have named, 

 and the covering of manure given in autumn, will keep any plantation 

 in good bearing condition for many years. We have cut heads from 

 Asparagus when the roots were only two years old, had good stems 

 from it at three years, and a full crop the fourth season. When to 

 cease cutting should be regulated by situation and climate. In late 

 sunless districts, late cutting may prevent the crowns from developing 

 fully and maturing thoroughly in autumn, and this oft repeated will 

 soon cause degeneracy. Here we usually do not cut long after the 

 Peas come in, which is early in June. With regard to forcing Aspara- 



