Asparagus 



width of the beds. We settle the first point by the measure of the 

 plant, and the second by the measure of the man. Monster sticks 

 are valued at some tables, and we shall refer to these later on, but an 

 abundant crop of handsome, though not abnormal, Asparagus meets 

 the requirements of most households. After many experiments, we 

 have come to the conclusion that the best mode of insuring a full re- 

 turn of really good sticks, with the least amount of labour, is to lay 

 out the land in three-feet beds, with two-feet alleys between. In 

 some instances, no doubt, five-feet beds, planted with three rows of 

 roots, one down the middle and one on each side at a distance of 

 eighteen inches, are preferable. For the majority of gardens, how- 

 ever, the three-feet bed is a distinct advantage, were it only for the 

 fact that all excuse for putting a foot on the bed is avoided. On this 

 narrow bed only two rows of plants will be necessary. Put down the 

 line at nine inches from the edge on both sides, and at intervals of 

 fifteen inches in the rows dibble holes three inches deep, dropping 

 two or three seeds in each. This will give a distance between the 

 rows of eighteen inches. In very strong land, heavily manured, the 

 holes may be eighteen inches apart instead of fifteen. April is the 

 right month for sowing. 



When the * grass ' from seeds has grown about six inches high, 

 only the strongest plant must be left at each station, and they should 

 stand at a distance of fifteen or eighteen inches in the row. Much 

 of the injury reported to follow from close planting has been the 

 result rather of carelessness in thinning. The young plant is such a 

 slender, delicate thing, that, to the thoughtless operator, it seems 

 folly to thin down to one only. The consequence is that two or 

 three, or perhaps half a dozen, plants are left at each station to ' fight 

 it out,' and these become so intermixed as to appear to be one, 

 though really many, and of course amongst them they produce more 

 shoots than can be fed properly by the limited range of their roots. 

 Severe, or we may say mathematical, thinning is a sine qua non, and 

 it requires sharp eyes and careful fingers ; but it must be done if the 

 Asparagus beds are to become, as they should be, the pride of the 

 Kitchen Garden. 



The grave question of white versus green Asparagus we cannot 

 entertain, except so far as concerns the cultivator only. On the 

 point of taste, therefore, we say nothing ; and it is a mere matter of 

 management whether the sticks are blanched to the very tip, or 

 allowed to become green for some few inches. Blanching is effected 

 in various ways. The heaping up of soft soil, such as leaf-mould, 



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