SECT. XV. OF ESCULENTS. 217 



they should lie flat, or rather sinking, to catch the 

 rain. 



To plant beds of asparagus set the line nine inches 

 from the edge of the bed, and cut the trench upright, 

 close to it, so deep that the crowns of the roots lie 

 full two inches below the surface. If the mould of 

 the bed lies light, and is likely to settle much, the 

 crowns of the plants may come very near the top, 

 and two inches of mould put on afterwards, which is 

 indeed the best method of planting : but if the 

 ground is not expected to settle, two inches of the 

 top mould must (in this method) be first drawn aside 

 to cover with. The roots must be neatly spread 

 against the trench, and cut as little as possible; i. e. 

 only the damaged parts off; it should be with a 

 sharp knife, and better if done the day before they 

 are used, that the ends may dry and heal. It is of 

 consequence to have the plants dug up carefully, 

 with a three pronged fork, that the roots may not 

 be injured. 



To sow beds of asparagus, make little holes an 

 inch deep, at the distance directed for plants, and 

 having laid three fine seeds in each, near an inch 

 asunder, cover them three-fourths of an inch, which 

 will leave little hollows, to shew their places, and 

 give occasional watering in a dry time, to fetch them 

 up. If the beds were covered with a little haulm 

 or straw, till the plants appeared, it would help 

 them to germinate, as in a sunny season they are apt 

 to lie long, especially if the work be not done till 

 April. When the plants are above ground fill up 

 the holes. Refresh the plants occasionally with 

 water through the summer, and when they are two 

 inches high, thin the holes to one plant in each, and 

 cover the beds with an inch of mould, and they wiji 

 then be two inches deep, as was directed for plants. 

 The drawn plants may be pricked out at four or five 



