96 HORTICULTURE LECT. vi 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



Q. If it is not necessary to form raised beds for asparagus, 

 why are such beds always provided for growing this vegetable ? 



A. They are by no means always provided, large quantities 

 of the finest produce being afforded by plants in level ground. 

 Where this is deep, rich, friable, and either naturally or 

 artificially drained, so that the water passes freely through 

 it into the subsoil, raised beds are not required by the plants, 

 though their owners may, perhaps, like to see them ; in low- 

 lying positions, with water standing within two feet of the 

 surface, raised beds are advantageous. 



Q. Salt is said to be good for asparagus : is it best given in 

 the winter or summer ? 



A. It is best applied in the spring when the weeds are first 

 showing a tinge of green, giving sufficient to destroy them 

 about a quarter of a pound to the square yard. This is 

 beneficial, especially on land of a light, dry nature. Salting in 

 the autumn or winter makes the ground too wet. 



Q. Then it would not be good to give liquid manure in the 

 winter, would it ? 



A. It may be used with far greater effect in summer to 

 encourage strong growth, and the stronger the stems are, if not 

 broken by the wind, the finer the crowns will be, also the heads 

 which they produce for cutting. 



Q. What is the reason the French asparagus is so large and 

 white while the English is much smaller and green ? Are the 

 varieties different ? 



A. No, it is not a question of variety but management. The 

 French draw ridges of earth over the crowns, and the stems 

 thicken in it ; as soon as they extend above ground they 

 naturally taper, becoming thinner the taller they grow, and 

 green by exposure to the air ; but only a small portion of the 

 blanched heads are eatable, and "fat" green stems are preferred 

 by many, if not most, persons in this country. The chief 

 point to aim at is strong summer growth, not cutting much 

 after the middle of June, then fine heads either white or green 

 may be had from the same row or bed according to the desire of 

 the owner or cultivator. The largest heads are cut in spring 

 from plants which make very strong summer growth in rows 

 four feet asunder. 



Q. How soon is asparagus ready for cutting after sowing the 

 seed, and how long do the plants remain productive ? 



