The Canadian Hortiiu/turisi. 



85 



about four inches from the bottom, 

 which will hold the sand tray. 



Assuming the frame to be fiur feet 



Fig. 25. — A Hoktahi.e Propagating Cask. 



long, three feet wide, and two feet deep 

 inside, a tray of fairly stout galvanized 

 iron, three feet nine inches long, two 



feet nine inches wide, and four inches 

 deep, should be had to form the water 

 tank ; and the one for the sand to be 

 half an inch less than the frame in 

 length and breadth, and about six 

 inches deep. Besides these, a kerosene 

 lam|) of ordinary form will be necessary 

 10 stand under the case to keep the 

 water warm, but not touching the tray, 

 standing on a support to raise it to the 

 proper height. The bottom tray is 

 placed in position and nearly filled 

 with hot water. Then the second tray, 

 half filled with sand, is put into place, 

 and the case covered down. The lamp 

 should be lighted, and after the sand 

 has become warmed the cuttings or 

 seed pans can be placed in ; and, by 

 regulating the distance between the 

 lamp and the water tray, a proper 

 uniform heat can be maintained. — 

 Mary A. Newcome, Bureau Co., III., 

 in Popular Gardening. 



QUESTION DRHWER 



Asparagus. 



15. (i) Can it be grown profitably for a 

 distant market ? (2) Is there any better 

 varieties than Conover's ? (3) What is the 

 best method of handling and shipping ? .\ 

 Constant Reader, Napanee. 



Reply by Jas. Dunlop, gardener, St. Catharines. 



I. Yes. 2. None that I have 

 grown. 3. Packed in cases holding, 

 say. (we. dozen bunches after it is 

 cleaned and trimmed. 



Reply by J. .■[ . Bruce, Hamilton. 



Asparagus can be grown profitably 

 for a distant market ; never knew of 

 a glut in the market —the demand is 

 always equal to the supply. 



Conover's is a first-class variety 

 and more largely cultivated than any 

 other. Lenormand's Mammoth and 

 Early Purple Argenteuil are famous 

 varieties in the Paris (France) mar- 



kets, and are getting better known in 

 America. 



Shippers will require to find out 

 the requirements of the markets to 

 which they purpose shipping. As to 

 size of bunch etc. — pack in slatted 

 cases, and on newly mowed grass to 

 put between the different layers. 



The fotlowinf; from Burpee's " Kitchen Garden 0/ One 



.tcre," may also help to amplify our replies 



to our correspondent. 



In planting the crowns they should 

 be set at a depth of three or four 

 inches at the most ; not one foot 

 under groimd, as is the common 

 practice of truckers. Market gar- 

 deners cut the shoots as soon as the 

 shoots appear above the surface, so 

 that their shoots are blanched the 

 whole length ; but they do this at 

 the expense of their table quality, as 

 only the tips are edible in this way, 

 ami even these taste ver\ much like 



