FORCING 109 
an average the bed was steamed about twice in three 
days and then only for about five minutes for each 
tunnel. The soil and horse manure mulch seemed to 
hold the heat very well, the frequent steamings keep- 
ing up fermentation in the mulch. 
‘The first asparagus was cut November 24th, ten 
days after the first steam was applied. The stems 
were cut just before they got through the soil and 
were perfectly bleached. They were as large as those 
ordinarily produced during the normal period of 
growth in spring, and were far more crisp and 
delicious. 
‘‘ Cuttings of asparagus were made almost daily for 
about a month, when the growth became somewhat 
weak. The last cutting was made on December 22d. 
During the month 141 bunches of the ordinary market 
size, and weighing about one-half pound each, were 
cut from this bed of 25 x 50 feet. This was equivalent 
to 300 feet of row or 100 hills of asparagus. 
‘‘ Exhausting steam into the asparagus bed, instead 
of returning it to the boiler in an inclosed circuit, would 
at first seem to be a wasteful process of heating. 
Experiment showed, however, that the circumstances 
justified this method. Heating a bed of this kind by 
a circuit of steam-pipes or hot-water pipes is very un- 
satisfactory. The heat from pipes very soon dries out 
the soil around the tunnels, destroying its power to 
conduct heat. In this way the bed becomes too hot 
and dry adjacent to the tunnels and too cold a short 
distance from them. It also becomes necessary to 
maintain heat in the pipes a good part of the time. 
‘‘ By blowing steam directly into the tunnels the 
