ASP 



ASP 



more deep, light, loamy, or alluvial kimls. The 

 vtrv strong loams do not answer so perttctly tor 

 the culture ot this plant as those ot the less 

 heavy sorts. 



It is neccssarv to he particular in the prtpa- 

 ratioii of the ground Ibr the reception of the 

 plants, both on account of the great length of 

 time whicJt is required before ihev attain per- 

 fection, and from little being capable of being 

 <lone after thcv have been put in w ilhout in- 

 juring their roots. It should constantly be well 

 trenched to the depth of two feel or more, and 

 a proper quantity of manure well incorporated with 

 it at the same time. The best manures arc pro- 

 bably composts of good horse- or cow-dung with 

 vegetable mould; but some employ sea-weed, 

 marlc, and other sui)stanees in the same wav, 

 especially where the .soil is inclined to be stiff. 



The most proper situations lor this sort of 

 culture are those which are open and well ex- 

 posed to the free action of the air and sun, as 

 in these cases the Asparagus is not only more 

 early but better flavoured. 



Rahing the Plants, and Methods of Planting. — 

 The usual mode of providing the ])lants is by 

 raising them from seed, which should be care- 

 fullv selected from the best plants, and sown on 

 a bed of good light earth about four feet in 

 width in the latter end of February or beginning 

 of the followinij month, either in broad-cast over 

 the surface, or in drills at the distance of six 

 inches lengthways, the ground being then raked 

 even. When the plants appear they should be 

 kept perfectly clean from w eeds during the sum- 

 mer, and the crow ns of the roots protected in 

 the winter bv spreading a little short stable litter 

 over them. Thev are sometimes transplanted 

 so as to form the beds in the spring ibllowing; 

 but it is a better practice to let them remain till 

 they are two years old, as the plants are less 

 liable to be destroyed. 



Some, however, think it the best method to 

 let the seed be sown at once w here the plants 

 are to remain, as by that means thev become 

 much stronger at the time of cutting than when 

 they have been transplanted. 



In planting, different methods arc pursued, 

 as in beds of four feet in width, with allevs of 

 two feet bctw een them ; in beds of two feet, 

 with alleys of the same width; and in single 

 rows at three feet or more apart. But though 

 the first is the most connnon mode, the latter 

 are preferable in many cases. 



In the tw o first methods the roots of the plants 

 should be careiully taken up from the seed-bed, 

 and be made use of without undergoing any trim- 

 ming. With the four-feet and two-feel beds the 

 plants are usually put in row s at the distance of a 



foot from each other, the first havinir four rows, 

 and the latter two rows leiiglhw.ivs of the beds. 

 They are eiinniionly sit in small drills or narrow 

 trenches, but some use a small dibble for the 

 pur|)()se. 



in the single-row method it is probalily the 

 best practice to drill in the seeds, though the 

 roots may be employed where they are thought 

 preferable. 



The beds should be formed of proper dimen- 

 sions in a neat recular maimer bv mean* of a 

 line, and then spaces aceoruinir to their breadths 

 marked out for the rows, beginning nine inches 

 from the edges. Tiien stretch a line light along 

 the length of the bed in the first outside row, 

 and with the spade held in an erect position, 

 the back beiii<r placed towards the line, cut out 

 a small trench along close to the line aliout six 

 inches deep, forming the side next the line up- 

 right, turning out the earth evenU to lie close 

 along the edge of the trench, readv to earth in 

 the roots as planted. This being done, proceed 

 to planting the row, placing the plants in the 

 trench close against the upright side about ciirht 

 or ten inches asunder, with the crow ns uprinht 

 about'tuo inches below the surface, spreading the 

 roots both ways, and drawing a little earth up 

 to those of each plant as thev are put in, just 

 so as to fix them in their places till the whole of 

 the row is planted; then directly rake the exca- 

 vated earth into the trench evcnlv over the roots 

 and crowns of the plants ; wiiich done, move 

 the line a foot further for the next row, and cut 

 out another trench as before, and |)lani it in the 

 same manner, directly earthing over the plants 

 as ill the first row, anil so with the rest till the 

 whole is completed. Having finishetl the plant- 

 ing the beds, the alleys mav either be lined out 

 now regularlv, or deferred till the winter or spring 

 dressing; though where the beds and alleys arc 

 formed j)revious to the planting, it ma\- be eli- 

 gible to line them neaily in their proper dimen- 

 sions as soon as planted, making the edges of 

 the beds full and straight, and the allevs level 

 and even. Some sow ihe beds with onions, 

 lettuce, or other similar crops ; but this should 

 always, if possible, be avoided. 



Beds thus planted will eoiUinue ten or twelve 

 years or longer. 



Asparagus, after being thus planted out, re- 

 quires the follow ing cuhivation : the shoots, as 

 soon as thev present themselves above ground in 

 the beginning of Mav, which arc olten not 

 nmeh biager than straws, must be permitted to 

 run wholly to stem, and during sunmicr be kcp» 

 clean from w ceils bv small hoeing or hand-weed- 

 ing three or tour limes ; and where other crops 

 arc cultivated with ihcm, thin them in the usual 



