414 VILLA GAEDENING part v 



really an excellent plan, gaining nearly a season in point of time. 

 The best plan is to make up a slight hotbed of leaves for the 

 plants after they are potted off, and in April draw off the lights 

 on fine days, covering np again at night, planting out about the 

 middle of May. And now comes the question, How shall we 

 plant 1 Is it best to 



Plant in Single Rows or in beds ■? And again, if we plant 

 in single rows, how much space shall intervene ? The old system 

 of growing Asparagus in beds is yielding to the plan of single 

 independent rows. Some people think this is a new idea borrowed 

 from the French; but it is not so, for some time ago I was 

 looking through an old book on gardening, published at the 

 beginning of the present century, and there I found the single- 

 row system recommended. In field culture or in large gardens 

 I have no doubt in my own inind that it will pay better to have 

 tlie rows at least 12 feet apart, with other crops in the intervals 

 between. The plants in the rows may be from 15 to 18 inches 

 apart. Under this system the work would be cheaply done, as 

 most of it could be executed with horse labour. I often wonder, in 

 these bad days for agricultm-e, that some one does not start an 

 Asparagus farm on this system, for during the time of waiting for 

 the crop, which is the chief objection urged against it by the 

 most intelligent farmers, who are looking for something to partially 

 take the place of Wheat, the land woidd at least be paying expenses. 

 In small gardens single rows of Asparagus might be planted in 

 any suitable situation. On dry porous soils it is best to plant 

 in slight hollows or trenches, as the plants love moisture, and this 

 will at the same time facilitate the earthing up of the crowns 

 to blanch the stems as they arise. Much difference of opinion 

 exists as to whether the blanched or the unblanched Asparagus 

 is best. I like the medium way best — blanch the lower part 

 of the stem, but let the top be 3 inches above ground. With 

 the bed system we may either have the beds 3 feet wide with 

 two rows of plants, or 5 feet wide occupied with three rows. In 

 either case there will be 2 feet alleys dividing them for the pur- 

 pose of giving free access to gather the produce, etc. Whichever 

 plan is adopted, for the first two years everything must be done to 

 encourage growth. Liquid manure will be of great service, and 

 rich top-dressings should be given in autumn, but of course there 

 must be nothing cut from the bed during those years. In windy 

 places, until the growth becomes strong and self- supporting, a 

 stake and a tie should be given to the strongest stems to i)re- 

 vent the wind wrenching them, as everything depends upon the 

 production of strong growth, and its perfect development and 



