OF ESCULENTS. SECT. XV, 



inches distance, to make good any deficiencies next 

 spring, or otherwise ; but if the plants are not want' 

 ed, it will be best to- cut the spare ones off, which 

 does not disturb the roots of those left. In October, 

 when the haulm is decayed, cover, the bed with 

 about half an inch of rotten dung, to make them 

 strong and keep out frost ; and, in severe weather, 

 put some long litter over all. In spring, take the 

 Jitter off, and gently stir (with a proper fork) the 

 rotten dung in : do so again the next year. Water- 

 ing asparagus beds with the draining of a dunghill 

 (a rich manure too often lost) in autumn, or spring, 

 will wash food down to the roots, and greatly benefit; 

 the lower soil to the increase of the produce : It is 

 particularly worth while to make a rank dunged 

 water for this purpose, to recover weak or old beds. 

 See p, 55. 



Asparagus is cut front) planted beds in three years, 

 and from so\yn ones in four ; but this loss of a year, 

 will be amply repaid by the superior size and abun- 

 dance of the heads. If the buds come very fine, a 

 little may be cut the year before. A thin crop of 

 onions, or of lettuces to prick out, is commonly had 

 on planted beds the. first, and on seed beds the two, 

 first years, taking care that none grow just about the 

 plants. The best method of doing this business, is 

 l?y an intermediate drill between each row, and again 

 Across them : It were bettev however to have n$ 

 crop at all. 



The management of Asparagus beds is, to cut 

 down the haulm, within an inch of the ground, when 

 it turns yellow in autumn, clearing of weeds, stirring 

 the ground, and covering the whole over with about 

 an inch of rotten dung before every winter, which is 

 to be forked in at spring, not to hurt the plants, and 

 covered with some parings of the mould from the 

 , which shpuld afterwards be dug over, if no 



