122 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Asparagus — continued. 

 rlojiiMi'ls on tho size of garden, and the class of " grass " 

 dcsiretl. When very large and fine stocks are the object in 

 view, tlie best results will accrue if the plants are fully a 

 yard apart each way ; but this means a comparatively small 

 crop. A good plan is to make the beds 3ft. wide, planting 

 two rows, at a distance of Ift. from each otlier, and allowing 

 18in. between each plant, placing them in alternate order. 

 An 18in. alley should bo allowed between the beds. The 

 roots used for making tho beds sliould be one year old, and 

 fresh from the ground. In planting, pull out a wide drill 

 with a hoe, or other tool, to tho depth of about 3in. or -j-in., 

 and spread out the roots all rounii. Carefully shake the 

 soU in amongst the roots, and, if dry, apply some water 

 thi'ough a coarso-ros,. d watering pot, to settle the earth 

 around them. At intervals, as necessary, give other water- 

 ings till September, when they should bo discontinued. 

 At all times, keep the beds free from weeds, removing 

 them by the hand to prevent injury to the crowns of 

 the plants. If the ground is good, no liquid manure will 

 be needed the first year. As soon as the foliage turns 

 yellow, cut it off, cleanly rake over the bods, and leave till 

 about January, when a top-dressing of from lin. to 3in. of 

 thoroughly rotted manure may be applied with advantage. 

 At the end of February, rake off the bed all loose straw or 





Fig. 160. AsPAllAfiUS, Crown for Litung. 



otiior dehris, and throw on them a little of the soil from 

 the alleys, raking- down, and finishing off the edges sijuarelj 

 and neatly. During this and succeeding years, apply 

 liqtlid manure and clear water, from time to time, as 

 required ; and, provided the manm-e is not of too great 

 strength, there is scarcely any limit to its apphcation ; but, 

 in many instances, beds which have only received an annual 

 dressing have given a good return. Kach year they must 

 bo cut over and dressed as before described, but care must 

 be taken to keep them flat on the surface, otherwise the 

 plants will die out for want of moisture. When the pro- 

 duce appears, the bods should be kept cut over until the 

 20th of June, after which, cutting should cease, or they will 

 be rendered comparatively unproductive. Cutting can 

 commence the second or third year, or as soon as there is 

 any "grass" worth taking. Several methods of growing 

 those plants could be cited, but that wliich we have recom- 

 mended will be found most satisfactory. 



Seeds. Plants are raised by sowing seeds in rows across 

 the kitclicn garden, or selected quarter, about tlie montli of 

 April. Tiic seedlings make a growth, and form good i)lants 

 dui-ing tho first season. In March or April of the following 

 year, or the year after, they may be removed, and planted 



Asparagus — continued. 

 out iiormanontly, as already alluded to. Many cultivators 

 prefer growing their own plants from seed ; because during 

 the transit of the roots from any distance to where they are 

 to bo grown, a frequent and injurious exliaustion takes 

 plane, and particularly so when they are carelessly packed. 

 Forcing. Asparagus can, if i)roperly treated, be obtained 

 from December onwards ; and at Christmas time the 

 produce ia very valuable ; but, in order to obtain it 

 at this season, it will be necessary to resort to forcing. 

 Prepare some beds to secure a lasting heat, and on these 

 place about 3in. of ordinary garden soil, not very stiff. Then 

 take the roots, and place them crown upwards, and mode- 

 rately close together, shaking the soil well amongst the 

 roots, and covering about a couple of inches deep. Water 

 well, to settle the whole, and put on the lights, allowing a 

 little ventilation, to let out any steam which may arise. 

 Unless tho weather be very cold indeed, give a little air at 

 all times, and only cover the lights in actual frost. From 

 time to time, apply fresh linings of hot manure, and in cold 

 rains, or wind, cover the outsides of tho frames with old sacks, 

 or other things which wiU keep in the heat. A regular and 

 steady temperature of GOdeg. will force this plant with 

 better results than a higher one. Houses that are fitted with 

 hot-water pipes to give bottom heat can be used equally as 

 well as manure beds, and so long as tho soil is 

 kept moist, the heat thus obtained is as good 

 as any for the purpose, and miich less trouble 

 than fermenting materials. To keep up a 

 regular supply, a siiecossion of beds will be 

 necessary. Asparagus can be forced, or rather 

 forwarded, in pots or boxes, in a warm green- 

 house or vinery, and, of course, when the plants 

 are done with, they can be cast away. Wo 

 give an illustration (Fig. IGO) of a bearing 

 crown fit for gentle forcing ; but, of course, it 

 must not be left so bare of earth as appears 

 here, which is done for the purpose of clear- 

 ness. 



Varieties. Connover's Colossal, and Giant, 

 are the most esteemed. Strains are freiiucntly 

 largely advertised as improvements on the 

 sorts above-mentioned, and the charges are 

 liigher accordingly. The difference may be 

 generally attributed to the culture the plants 

 receive more than to an improved variety. 

 When saving seed for home sowing, they 

 should be taken from the strongest growths, 

 or deterioration will ensue. 



A. rothiopicns temllolius (fcern;ite). Jl. wliite, in 

 shortly -stalked racemes, very profuse. August. L, 

 false ones in threes, flattened, narrow, linear; prickles soli- 

 tary, reversed ; l)ranches angular, h. 30ft. South Africa, 1872. 

 A .iireenlmuse evergreen. 

 A, Broussoneti (Broussonet's).* Jl. very small, succeeded by 

 small red berries. May. L, lower ones solitary, the others ter- 

 nate, lin. long, needle-shaperl. persLsteiit, distant, lilaucescent ; 

 stipules with reflected spines at the iM.'^e. Siinniii'r. Stem 

 taperinar, streaked, shrubby, h. 10ft. Canary Islands, 1822. A 

 very pretty hardy climber. 



A, Cooperi (Cooper's), fl. axillary, one to three, from the same 

 nodes as the false leaves; periantli cream-coluureil, mie lino lon^. 

 April and May. L minute, deltoid, scariose, reililisli-lMowii ; false 

 leaves six to fifteen to a node, subulate, nitKleratt-Iv Hriii, Jin. 

 to ^in. li.n.i:. sprea-lint; or ascending, ft. 10ft. to 12ft. Africa, 1862. 

 A greenhiiusc clinilKT, with a shrubby terete main stem, l^in. to 

 2in. thick at the lias"-, si'inling out crowds of spreading brandies, 

 which bear abundant sU-nder. firtu.altcniate branchlets ; nodes of 

 branches and branchlets, furnished \vith distinct n-d-lirown, subu- 

 late prickles, those uf the main stems ^in. luni;, deflexeil, but not 

 curved. 



A. decumbens (decumbent).* Stem unarmed, decumbent, mucli 

 branched; branches wavy; leaves setaceous, in threes. Cape of 

 GoutI llnpe, 1792. A greenhouse evergi*een herbaceous perennial. 



A. falcatUS (hookfd-Ioaved). l. fascicled, linear, falcate; branches 

 round; prickles soliUiry, recurved ; peduncles une-fiowered, 

 cbistered. h. 3ft. India, 1792. A greenhouse evergreen peren- 

 nial. 



A, officinalis (officinal). Common Asparagus. Jl. greenish- 

 white, drooping. August. I. setaceous, fasciculate, flexible, 



