ON FORCING ASPARAGUS. 93 



during the summer. In the second November 

 treat them as before ; fork over the beds, and 

 add another four inches of soil, which will bring 

 them to the required height of three feet, 

 keeping the trenches filled with leaves. Let 

 them remain in this state for the summer, and 

 in December, two years and nine months from 

 the setting, they will be fit to force, and will 

 last many years in excellent bearing. 



About four weeks before the heads are 

 required, put on the frame-work and shutters, 

 take out the leaves from the cavities, and fill 

 them immediately with well-prepared dung, or 

 dung and leaves, which should be quite sweet. 

 These linings will require turning every ten 

 days, or a fortnight at most, to keep them 

 fermenting regularly ; fresh litter must be 

 added to the tops as they sink, which will need 

 no preparation. 



When the bearing is over, and the covers of 

 the beds removed, do not disturb the linings, as 

 the roots will extend themselves from the beds 



