FORCING 103 
two feet long. January roth, a heavy cutting. Janu- 
ary 19th, cut about half as many shoots as on the roth. 
January 30th, cut about as much as on the roth, but 
shoots growing smaller. February 1oth, small cut- 
ting of weak shoots. Beyond this time there were no 
shoots worth cutting. 
FORCING IN HOTBEDS AND FRAMES 
The forcing of asparagus in hotbeds does not differ 
materially from that in the greenhouse, except in the 
supply of heat. ‘‘A most suitable place for forcing 
asparagus,’’ writes William Scott, in Garden and Forest, 
‘‘is a frame about four feet deep with one-fourth inch 
hot-water pipe running around it. About two and 
one-half feet of fresh stable litter should be put into 
the frame and firmly packed, with an inch or two of 
sand spread over it. ‘This bed should be allowed to 
stand until the heat of the manure has declined 
to about 70°, and not below 65°, before the crowns 
are placed on it. For this work advantage should 
be taken of a day when the weather is mild, as 
the crowns are easily damaged by frost. Large crowns 
five or six years old are preferable to smaller ones for 
forcing. "They may be placed rather closely together 
in the frame, but the distance apart must be regulated 
by their size. The roots should be spread evenly over 
the surface and covered with six inches of sand. Little 
water will be required, as the steam from the manure 
affords considerable moisture ; but if the bed should 
become dry, it may be moistened with water of the 
same temperature as the soil in the frame. A little 
air may be admitted, when the day is bright and warm, 
