FORCING 105 
common method of accomplishing this is to place 
barrels over clumps of asparagus very early in the 
spring and pile fermenting manure about them, the 
warmth from the manure forcing the shoots into rapid 
growth. When the forcing season is over and the 
danger from frost is past the barrels are removed, and 
the plants continue growth in the open air. Some- 
times asparagus is forced by placing frames, covered 
with sash, over the plants in the field, the rows of 
asparagus being set rather close together. This is 
considered a very profitable method by many market 
gardeners. Another method of forcing asparagus in 
the field is to dig ditches between the rows and fill 
them with fermenting manure. The surface of the 
bed may also be mulched with manure. The latter 
plan is extensively practiced by French market 
gardeners. 
At the beginning of November the pathways 
between the beds of asparagus are dug up about two 
feet in depth and width. The soil coming from the 
pathway is divided very carefully and put about eight 
inches thick on the surface of the bed. The trench is 
filled up with fresh stable manure, not litter, and 
frames are placed on the bed. The manure should rise 
as high as the top of the frames and the lights be 
entirely covered with mats and litter to prevent the 
heat accumulating in the frame from escaping. In 
about two or three weeks the asparagus begins to show 
itself on the surface of the bed. Many market gardeners 
cover the whole of the bed inside the frames to a thick- 
ness of three or four inches with manure, to force the 
vegetation more quickly; but in this case the manure 
