6:4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



one side of the garden, so that the plow may be used upon the 

 other side if desirable. 



In covering vegetable and other seeds it is better to use the 

 hack of a rake, or the foot, pushing the dirt directly across the 

 row. The teeth of a rake, drawn lengthwise, will cause lumps 

 and small stones to roll in first upon the seed. If it is desirous 

 that the ground have a neat look after the work is done, the rake- 

 teeth may be drawn lengthwise after the seeds are covered. 

 Where it is an object to have every seed vegetate on stony or 

 lumpy soil, bring fine earth from another place in a basket, and 

 strew on by hand. 



Asparagus is best obtained from the nursery or seedsmen, get- 

 ting good strong one year old roots. Set in either spring or fall 

 in deeply worked, rich soil. Too much manure can hardly be 

 added to this vegetable, and the giant sort is made so by manure. 

 After diirffino; in a liberal dressino;, open trenches 16 to 18 inches 

 apart, 18 inches deep, and fill in a foot of manure mixed with 

 earth, cover this with earth, and set the roots 8 to 10 inches 

 apart and cover with three inches of soil. Keep free from weeds 

 and cover with a coarse manure in the fall, both as a partial pro- 

 tection and that the leachinijs shall further enrich the soil. The 

 coarse part should be raked oif in the spring and the fine forked 

 in, using care not to injure the crowns. A few chicken coops in 

 the vicinity of the beds will keep the beetles in check. The sec- 

 ond year will give a partial supply, after which a full crop will be 

 had. Cutting should not be continued more than four weeks, else 

 the plants will be weakened. The roots are easily raised by 

 sowing seed thickly in drills one foot apart, covering one inch. 

 Transplant as above when one year old. No garden is complete 

 without its asparagus bed, and when well established and properly 

 cared for, it is good for 30 years. 



Beans. — Three, or at most four, of the manj' kinds catalogued 

 are enough for the garden, and being somewhat tender should 

 not be planted very early — usually the first v/eek in May in this 

 vicinity, though from appearance they might safely have been 

 planted the 25th of April this year. Early Valentine, or Six 

 Weeks, and Refugee, or Thousand to One, will answer well for 

 the early snap or string sorts, requiring no poles, and the London 

 Horticultural (speckled cranberry) and Large White Lima are the 

 best pole or running beans for using when shelled green. All 

 kinds do best on a light, warm soil, and should not be planted 



