I&79-] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 129 



Do not cut until the stem be coming up as thick as one's little finger; if 

 they never grow that size they are a comparative failure. When they are that 

 size, as they should be in two or three seasons at most, be careful to cut above 

 the crown, and not destroy the rising buds. If not very strong, do not cut 

 later than the end of May, otherwise they will be so much weakened as to 

 prevent them fully recovering lost ground during the summer. If very strong, 

 the cutting may go on until the 1st of June — not later. Afterwards encourage 

 all possible growth so as to lay up a store for another year. In very suitable 

 soils beds last many years when properly treated; in unfavourable soils they 

 soon wear out, and must be renewed accordingly. 



Forcing Asparagus. — It is not likely that many villa-gardeners will practise 

 this. The best method in small gardens is by means of a hot-bed ; in large 

 well-appointed ones, pits heated by hot-water are used. The best hot-bed for 

 the purpose is one composed of half stable-yard manure and half leaves gathered 

 off the lawns, &c, and kept dry for the purpose. These should be thrown to- 

 gether — well shaken out— and get a little sprinkling of water if too dry, and 

 turned twice, at intervals of a week, or when it has fairly heated each time. 

 It is then built up perfectly square a foot wider than the frame which is to 

 be put on it, and firmly beaten down with the fork as the building proceeds. 

 While building, keep it all equally level, and do not build one side before the 

 other. When 3 feet high, put on your frame, and build your hot-bed mate- 

 rial up to the top of the woodwork all round, then put on your light or lights, 

 and wait for a day or two until the heat rises. If too dry, or if there be 

 too great a proportion of fresh stable-yard manure, it will heat too violently. 

 But if the leaves were a little decayed, and the stable-yard manure not too 

 fresh with the preparation described, it ought to rise gradually to 80° or 90° 

 in the middle of the bed ; and if there be no signs of it going higher, then get 

 in the Asparagus roots with all possible speed. They can be bought, or you 

 can rear them, but they will require to be four years old from the seed 

 and fairly well grown before they are ready to force. They should be pro- 

 tected in their beds from frost, so that they can be lifted easily at any time. 

 Lift carefully with a fork, and after putting 3 inches of friable soil on the bed, 

 begin by putting the plants upright and quite close together; and when a suffi- 

 cient quantity is in, fill in between the plants with fine dryish soil up to the 

 crowns, and give a watering of tepid water to wash all interstices full, and 

 over all put 2 inches of the same description of soil. 



If succession crops be wanted from the same frame, divide the frame into 

 the necessary divisions with boards, and fill each division at intervals of a 

 week ; and if necessary a second frame can be prepared in the same way. I 

 have been thus particular because such a bed as I have described forms the 

 very best appliance whereby to force Seakale and Rhubarb during winter, and 

 is just the thing for Cucumber and Melon in summer, so I will not require to 

 give directions for forming beds when treating of those subjects. There 

 is this difference between Seakale and Rhubarb and Asparagus : the first 

 two require to be kept in total darkness to secure the best results, but As- 

 paragus is decidedly inferior when thus forced. To have it in full perfec- 

 tion both light and air are needful, so a glass frame is necessary ; whereas 

 any kind of frame, even hoops and mats, will do for Seakale and Rhubarb. 

 The temperature for each and all of these requires to be between 50° and 

 60°, above that, they will be drawn and flavourless ; and should the tem- 

 perature go below that by reason of severe weather or a declining heat in 

 the bed, mats or straw will be necessary to protect both frame and bed : and 



