CULTIVATION OF ASPARAGUS. 



The plants ought to be two years old when they 

 are transplanted ; they will even take at three ; 

 but at four they are apt to faiL 



If it be necessary to buy asparagus plants for 

 these beds, it will be proper to procure twice 

 as many as are required. The best must then be 

 selected for planting, and the remainder placed in 

 some remote portion of the prepared bed, or into 

 a similar situation, but without separating the 

 plants, Here they must first be covered with, 

 four inches of sand during the summer, and as 

 soon as the frost sets in, with six inches of dung 

 over that. 



The stems of the planted asparagus must be 

 cut down as soon as the frost commences, and 

 close to *the ground. The beds are then to be 

 covered with six inches of dung, and four of 

 sand. In March, the bed must be stirred with a 

 fork, taking care not to approach so near to the 

 plants as to derange them. Towards the end of 

 April, the plants which have died, may be re- 

 placed with the reserved ones lately describ^ 

 ed. 



In three years, the largest plants will be fit to 

 cut for use. If the beds be sufficiently large to 

 furnish a supply in this manner, the asparagus 

 shoots should be cut as fast as they appear, otherwise 

 they must be left till the quantity required has 

 pushed forth, in which case, the variety in co* 



VOL. II. R 



