^AN".] ASPAHAGUS. 5B"5 



younger, the grass will be small and trifling, and if 

 older, many of tlie buds will not spring; and so, 

 much trouble woidd go for nothing. They should 

 be placed with their crowns upriglit, as closely to- 

 gether as possible ; spreading out and intermixing- 

 the fibres, and keeping the crowns quite level, that 

 they may be equally covered with the mould. It 

 should be rendered very fine, either with the spade 

 or by being sifted ; and it should be laid on, to the 

 thickness of four inches, smooth and equal. A lit- 

 tle dry earth may aho be laid on outside, all round 

 the frame, and over it planks to stand or walk upoi>. 



The lights may now be put on, and may be kept 

 close shut down till the heat begin to rise in the 

 frame, covering carefully at nights with double 

 mats. The heat will begin to rise the sesond or 

 third day, and air should then be admitted, by tilt- 

 ing the glasses a little, in order to pass off the steam, 

 andy dry the surface of the mould. This must be 

 repeated every good day till the buds begin to ap- 

 pear, and then air must be more freely admitted, 

 to give them colour and flavour ; leaving a little 

 air, even in the night, if much steam prevail. 



If the weather be severe, it will be necessary to 

 cover at night with mats, but otherwise it may not 

 be so. If the air of the bed raise the thermometer 

 to 50^ in the night, it is sufficient. Even in the 

 day, in sunshine, it should not be allowed to rise 

 above 60% on account of drawing up the buds weak; 

 and if kept down to 55°, by the free admission of 

 air, both their flavour and colour, as observed a- 

 bove, will be enhanced. See this subject continued 

 next month. 



