72 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



shoddy, etc. taking care, however, not to add too 

 much. The manure in the trenches having been 

 trodden down well with the feet, so that it is about 

 a foot thick, about 6 or 8 in. of soil from the ad- 

 joining bed is then spread evenly over the surface. 



Four rows are marked out in the bed lengthways. 

 The two outer rows are about 8 in. from each 

 margin, the two centre ones being about 13 in. 

 apart. If wider or narrower frames are used the 

 distance between the rows would be regulated accord- 

 ingly ; but in any case it would be necessary to keep 

 the two outer rows at least 8 or 9 in. away from 

 the edges of the beds. 



Transplanting. Everything being now ready, so 

 far as the beds are concerned, one may proceed to 

 lift the young plants from the bed in which they were 

 pricked out from the seed-bed. It may be advisable, 

 however, to give them a good soaking an hour or 

 two beforehand so that they may be lifted more 

 easily and with some soil still adhering to the roots. 

 Having lifted them carefully with a fork, a selection 

 of the very best plants is again made. From twelve 

 to twenty " crowns " or clumps may be placed in 

 each light although sixteen is recommended as the 

 best number. 



If the frames have not been placed in position 

 before the actual planting, it will be necessary to 

 allow more space between the plants at the end of 

 one frame and the beginning of the next. For this 

 reason it is perhaps advisable to place the frames 

 temporarily in position as soon as the beds have been 

 made. One can then arrange the plants in the rows 

 so that the Asparagus crowns do not come directly 



