GARDEN VEGETABLES — ASPARAGUS. 



wide between, which will be convenient when gathering the crop. When all is 

 completed, cover over two inches of rotted manure as a mulching. With regard 

 to the area of ground required for the use of a family, it may be from ten feet 

 wide by fifty feet long to twenty-five feet by fifty ; but the latter is enough for a 

 very large supply, and the former will, in most cases, be amply sufficient. Always 

 accept one year plants, if they are to be had, for they will be ready for use quite 

 as soon as those which are older, with a greater certainty of success. These plants 

 can always be purchased at reasonable prices from the nurserymen ; so that, when 

 there is not a home supply, the deficiency can be readily made up. 



After Cultivation. — Asparagus is a very hardy plant, and will bear almost any 

 amount of frost when established ; nevertheless, it is well to cut off the withered 

 tops in the fall, and cover over a mulching of some suitable material, to keep up 

 the fertility, for which purpose there is nothing better than a sprinkling of guano, 

 and a thick layer of sea-weed ; but when this cannot be got, the next best substi- 

 tute is a dressing of salt and barnyard manure or rotted leaves. The young shoots 

 ought not to be cut until the third year after planting, unless there has been an 

 extraordinary luxuriance ; but after this, the beds will continue to yield in abund- 

 ance for twelve or fifteen years. Much, however, depends upon a good beginning, 

 and the after yearly dressings, besides which, when it is seen that the continually 

 rising sprouts are becoming w^eak from prolonged gathering, it ought to be dis- 

 continued. No exact rule can be laid down as a guide, in this respect, but gene- 

 rally, it may be extended to a period of two months ; and remember, further, that 

 unless all the sprouts are kept cut during this time, the roots will almost discon- 

 tinue to produce more ; consequently, the crop will be much reduced. 



Forcing. — There is no vegetable more readily forced than Asparagus, and there 

 are different contrivances for accomplishing the object. The most perfect mode is, 

 to have one or more beds prepared as above, in a line with, or being a part of, the 

 forcing department for vegetables. Tiie covering for this may be in the form of a 

 low double or single span house, and should be so joined together, that all the sashes 

 can be removed during the summer season. If a regular succession be required from 

 New Year until that in the open ground is ready, it will be necessary, in the North- 

 ern States, to have two compartments. In the earliest, heat maybe applied about 

 the 1st of December, and in the second, the beginning of February. Of course 

 it is understood here that a common Hue, or hotwater pipes, will be needful, and as 

 none but those having large establishments will adopt such a plan, it is expected 

 that a proficient designer would superintend the erection. I may say, however, 

 that the house figured in the January Horticulturist (art. Cucumber), would be 

 most suitable. Another method is as follows : Excavate a space six feet wide, 

 two feet six inches deep, and as long as may be desired ; build up the sides with 

 bricks or stone ; erect another wall ("pigeon-hole" fashion) three feet away from 

 the first, so as to leave a cavity of two feet six inches all around, and between the 

 two. There will now be a space of three feet wide in the centre. Fill this up 

 with (first) six inches broken bricks or loose stones ; over which, cover with in- 

 verted grass turfs, and the remaining two feet with suitable material for the plants 

 to grow in ; plant out in the same way as open ground culture. In two or three 

 years, the jilants will be strongenough to force ; and when such process is intended, 

 place over the bed a double span, close-boarding frame, one foot high on the sides ; 

 fill in the cavity above mentioned with unfermented, but hot stable manure ; bank 

 this up to the sides of the frame, and as it sinks down, add more, so as to kecji 

 up the warmth. AYhen the winter milds off, the covering may be removed, and 

 the shoots allowed to grow. So far, I have only spoken of permanent construc- 

 tion, without regard to expense; but we can go much more cheaply to work, and 



