FEB.] ASPARAGUS. 347 



it may be covered with a little light earth, over 

 \v]iich may be laid some clean straw, or fern- 

 branches, and a plank to keep all down, and to 

 walk upon. 



By tlie time the buds have come up three inches 

 above the surface, they are fit to gather for use, as 

 they will then be six or seven inches in length. In 

 gathering them draw aside a little of the mould, 

 slip down the finger and thumb, and twist them off 

 from the crown. This is a better method than to cut 

 them ; at least it is less dangerous to the rising buds, 

 which come up in thick succession, and might be 

 wounded by the knife, if cutting were practised. 



An ordinary sized three-light frame, completely 

 filled with good roots, and properly managed, will 

 only yield a dish every day for about three v/eeks at 

 most ; so that if a constant succession of asparagus 

 be required, it will be necessary to make up a bed 

 every eighteen or twenty days, till the middle or 

 end of March. Each successive bed may be made a 

 little lighter ; and less trouble will be required as the 

 season advances, though the success will be greater. 



Of forcing Asparagus in a Flved Pit, 

 Asparagus may be successfully forced in flued pits, 

 and with less trouble than on a dung hot-bed. The 

 kind of pit here meant, is such as that for young 

 pine plants, described at page 277* The roots may 

 either be forced on bark, or on dung, or on dung 

 and bark. But old, half rotten bark, in which there 

 is not much heat, is to be preferred. Next, well fer- 

 mented dung underneath, and old bark to the thick- 



