60 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE, 



of earthing up the sterna, to throw off the lights, as much as 

 the weather will permit, to induce a sturdy thickened growth, 

 and thus by the admission of plenty of air prevent the blanching 

 process. 



"When Asparagus is required in any quantity at an early season, a 

 much better method of forcing will be found in the following course. 

 The ordinary beds in the garden should he reduced in width to about 

 two feet and a half, or as narrow as the roots of the plants will 

 allow, and the sides of the beds be cased up with four-inch pigeon- 

 holed brickwork ; on the top of the beds a light framework of wood 

 is fixed in the manner of a ridge roof, to the middle of which canvas 

 frames are hung, so as to protect the young shoots from cold and 

 wet ; glazed frames would be preferable and glass best of all. The 

 alleys, which are now two feet wide, are filled, with hot dung, the 

 warmth from which, striking through the beds, starts the plants into 

 an active growth ; and in consequence of their being thoroughly 

 established, having an abundance of healthy roots uninjured by 

 removal, they break with a vigour unknown to such as are taken up 

 to force in frames. The advantages of this method are self-evident, 

 and a comparison between it and the common mode will make them' 

 so strongly apparent as to need no arguing. By the usual course 

 the plants are mutilated in their roots, aud then suddenly placed in 

 a comparatively strong heat ; and when they have borne this torturing, 

 and yielded the weakly produce consequent on such unnatural treat- 

 ment, are cast away as refuse. While, on the other hand, Asparagus 

 forced in the bed has all its roots in exactly the condition to make 

 the greatest return, and afterwards has only to be gradually inured 

 to the open air at the approach of summer, when its stems will grow 

 up and recruit the plants to the full as much as though it had not 

 beeu subject to more than the ordinary cutting, and prepare them 

 for a similar course in the next season, thus affording a superior 

 produce without any waste aud at an earlier and long continued 

 period. Of course it is necessary through the winter to protect the 

 beds with mats or litter in severe weather, and to turn and renew the 

 heating material as occasion requires, so that a degree of heat may be 

 imparted to the bed equal to about 50° Fahrenheit, and the summer 

 management of such beds will be precisely that of any common one ; 

 the heat of the dung in the alleys will be preserved and economized 

 if wooden shutters are made to fit closely over it, which a wooden 

 plate, running the length of the bed on the top of the brickwork, 

 will afford a ready means of fixing, and will also keep the path clean 

 and neat, and facilitate the cutting, and general management of the 

 beds. Six weeks is generally consumed in starting the beds, 

 reckoning from the time when the dung is first wheeled into the 

 alleys till the beds are fit to cut, supposing the forcing to commence 

 in November, and they will continue to furnish a supply for nearly 

 three months. 



