1873.] MAKIxNG ASPARAGUS -BEDS. 127 



plenty of moisture, it is always in light soil, where water passes freely 

 off. Under such circumstances it never attains to the size and tender- 

 ness to which it is grown under liberal culture, and on account of 

 which its delicate character is developed. We have lifted it in its 

 smaller and more wiry condition from the seaside, and grown it into 

 good useful Asparagus the third year after planting it in rich, well- 

 prepared soil. 



The old way of making Asparagus-beds was in most cases to raise 

 the beds a foot above the adjoining ground; and when the beds are of 

 considerable width, there is no objection to thus elevating them. 

 Some years ago I had the conducting of alterations and improvements 

 in pleasure-grounds where the top-soil was of a rich loamy nature, and 

 the subsoil approaching to what may be termed 1-inch earth ; so that 

 after removing the top-spit and reserving it for particular purposes, the 

 lower soil was sufficiently good for ordinary shrubs. The top-spit, after 

 lying in a heap for eighteen months, and having well worked into it 

 twice its own bulk of strawy dung from an open yard where young 

 horses had been fed, the whole was carefully turned over and mixed 

 during summer ; and in September and October this heap yielded the 

 most abundant crop of Mushrooms I ever had anything to do with. 

 There was no artificial spawning. In using this compost in preparing 

 Asparagus-beds, about 15 inches of the common garden-soil was dug 

 out, making the beds 4 feet wide. A foot deep of the compost was 

 put into the beds, after making sure of perfect drainage ; then 4 inches 

 of well-rotted dung, with a little of the natural soil that was turned 

 out of the beds; the whole was thoroughly mixed together; and 

 I then proceeded to plant. In a 4-feet bed leave a space of about 

 10 inches in the centre and stretch a line at each of the marks, then 

 with a spade make a drill or opening from 7 to 8 inches deep, bringino" 

 the soil removed in so doing towards the sides of the bed. Having 

 provided yourself with good healthy young plants — one or two year 

 old — plant them perpendicularly at 6 inches apart in this opening, 

 leaving the crowns just level with the soil. Press the soil firm to the 

 roots. Indeed the whole bed should be well firmed down by treading 

 before planting is commenced. Another row on each side of these two 

 gives four lines, which are sufficient for a 4-feet bed. When all are 

 planted, cover the crowns over with 2 inches of the common garden- 

 soil. When this is niiished, the beds will be 8 or 10 inches higher 

 than the ordinary level, and they will ultimately sink to about 6 inches. 

 When left higher than this, they are very liable to be injuriously affected 

 by the heats and droughts of summer. Beds thus prepared and 

 planted yield good returns the second year after planting. Where 

 Asparagus is required to force early, plants that are four to five years 



