118 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



day. The cool soil turned up will become heated, and a consid- 

 erable part of the moisture which would have remained in the 

 soil will be dried up. But, I do think an advantage is gained by 

 turning up the cool soil to the influence of the atmosphere just 

 at night, working, if it is moonlight, very late. The plowing 

 should be commenced very late in the afternoon and continued as 

 long as you can see. The dew is thus very much increased. I 

 have noticed this for many years. 



Mr. Gore. — It has been my practice to cultivate in the after- 

 noon. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I plant out everything after the heat of the 

 day is over, particularly at this season. In setting out cabbage 

 plants, take a good sized crowbar and shove it two feet into the 

 earth, filling the hole with Avater and then with earth, and one 

 out of five hundred will not die. But it should be done just at 

 uio-lit. The plant will be almost established by morning. 



Mr. Underbill. — Watering should be done just at night. It 

 wnll then sink into the ground far deeper, and the same quantity 

 of water will do three times as much good. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Mr. Carpenter. — Is it necessary to allow asparagus seed to 

 mature, in order to have a good orowth another year ; or may 

 the tops be cut off? 



Mr. Underbill. — My own experience is, that the plant will be 

 soon destroyed if it is not allowed to go to seed. The young 

 plants, Avhen not wanted for renewals, may be hoed up in the 

 spring. 



Mr. Gore. — Asparagus should never be cut later than the 

 middle of June. 



Mr. Robinson. — We should stop cutting Avhen the cutting is 

 still good, and let it perfect the seed thoroughly. 



Mr. Pardee. — The ripening of the seed is the most exhausting 

 operation there is. The only way to raise hybrid roses is to cut 

 off the bulbs where the roses have blossomed, and prune them 

 down a little. Instead of allowing the asparagus to harden the 

 seed, I should suppose that cutting it off would save the strength 

 which is necessary for that process. That is the law for all 

 flowers. Whenever we want flowers to continue, we must take 

 them off as soon as they have fairly blossomed. 



Dr. Trimble. — The Canada thistle can be killed by that process, 



