364 0)1 Forcing Asparagus. 



Art. II. On Forcing Asparagus. By E. Sayers. 



Asparagus is a hardy esculent vegetable, a native of Britain, 

 and is particularly adapted to this country, not only for its excel- 

 lent qualities, as an early esculent vegetable, grown in the natu- 

 ral soil, in the spring, but also for its being particularly ada])ted 

 for forcing, in frames, pits, or indeed in boxes, or almost any 

 place, or situation, where heat and moisture can be sufliciently 

 applied to cause it to vegetate; and in every case a produce will 

 be obtained sufficient to recompense those, who force it, by a 

 pretty general crop, if well managed. 



Before I proceed to the management of the forcing of aspara- 

 gus, I shall point out the method of growing the roots to be ope- 

 rated upon in a strong vigorous manner, which is one great prin- 

 ciple in forcing asparagus, as I do not know of any vegetable 

 that is more susceptible of improvement in cultivation, or one 

 that can be grown in a higher state of luxuriance. The aspara- 

 gus, in its natural growth and state, is merely a fine grass, spring- 

 ing up in the meadows of Britain; and it might easily be brought 

 to that state of poverty, even in this country, by giving it a poor 

 soil and similar location; and, on the contrary, when the roots 

 (which are fasticulate, and of a nature to easily imbibe any nutri- 

 ment present in the soil,) are located in a rich soil, the plant natu- 

 rally becomes of a vigorous, succulent nature, and hence may be 

 inferred the many different names given to the asparagus — as the 

 Giant, large Dutch, &c — which I candidly believe are merely va- 

 rieties, formed by luxuriance extracted, in the first case, from the 

 soil in which they are planted, and hence their first origin. 



The method which I recommend to be pursued for forcing as- 

 paragus, is, to grow the roots intended to be forced, from seed 

 sown on a very rich piece of ground, in the middle of October, 

 in rows, eighteen inches apart; the seed bed must be kept well 

 hoed and in excellent order, in the growing season: when the 

 plants have grown an inch or two in height, they will require to 

 be thinned to about six inches apart in the rows, that they may 

 have free access to the sun and air, to obtain a healthy vigorous 

 state. The second year, in the early part of April, prepare a 

 nursery bed of rich ground, in the best possible manner, into 

 which plant the seedlings, in rows, eighteen inches apart between 

 the rows, and twelve inches apart from plant to plant; the plant- 

 ing should not be performed by a dibble, but draw a furrow with 

 a hoe, into which spread the fasticulate roots, in a regular man- 

 ner. The plants should remain in this place two years, keeping 

 the bed at all times extremely clean, and never cut down the 

 stalks until they are fully ripe.* 



* The only method to obtain good asparagus in any stage of its growth 



