On the Treatment of the Iridacece. 365 



Practice of Forcing. — The asparagus may be forced at any 

 time after the stalks are dead, as from that time the roots are in 

 a dormant state, and are only waiting for a congenial temperature 

 and season to start their vegetative powers. In preparing the 

 hot-bed, those materials that will give a moderate and continual 

 heat are the best; oak leaves and good horse manure, mixed to- 

 gether, and worked into a state of fermentation, I should prefer: 

 make a moderate hot-bed of these materials, when well worked 

 into a proper state, by turning and thoroughly mixing together, 

 at different times. When the bed is made place the frame upon 

 it; it may then be well watered, and the frame closed a day or 

 two, to draw up a moist genial heat; about six inches of a light, 

 rich, mellow soil, as leaf mould, or something similar, may then 

 be spread upon it, and the frame again closed, to draw the 

 heat through the soil; this being accomplished, and the bed hav- 

 ing a proper temperature, ranging from 45° to 50°, the asparagus 

 roots are to be placed thick over it, and lightly covered with light 

 soil, old tan, or the like, about six inches deep. Great care 

 must be taken, at this period of the operation, that too much 

 heat is not apj)lied to the roots, to start vegetation in too rapid a 

 manner, (one of the greatest and most common errors in forcing 

 asparagus;) therefore give plenty of air during the day, and at 

 night, if there is any danger of its being too violent. If forcing 

 is carried on in severe weather, the bed will require covering 

 with bast mats or hay during the night. 



Yours, 



E. Sayers. 

 Boston, Sept. 14, 1S37. 



[To be continued.] 



Art. III. Gbservations on the Treatment of several Genera 

 of the JsTalural order Iridacece. By the Conductor. 



In our vol. II, p. 408, under this head, we proposed to give 

 the cultivation and treatment of several genera of this beautiful 



is to place the roots into a rich mellow soil; for they, being of a fasticu- 

 late nature, often lose much of their strength and vigor when the soil 

 is dry Jind poor; and indeed j)art of them often perish before their pro- 

 per time, and hence the crown and buds cannot be properly fed. On 

 the other hand, the leaves and stalks of the asparagus are very porous, 

 and convey much nutriment from the atmosphere to the roots, and 

 hence the utility of their having free access to it. — E. S. 



