ECT. XV. QF ESCULENTS. 



crop is in them to prevent it. It may seem, that an 

 addition every year to the beds might sink the crowns 

 of the plants too low but it is their nature to rise 

 as they grow. Besides the rotten dung, as above, 

 there may be laid some long litter over the beds, 

 before severe weather sets in ; but the covering of 

 asparagus beds is not simply to keep out frost, 

 (which will not hurt them without much wet) but 

 to keep them warm, that the buds may be forward 

 at spring. A stump ought to be kept at each corner 

 of the beds, to shew their bounds, and as marks to 

 pare the alleys up by, which (generally) should lay 

 three or four inches lower. 



The cutting heads of asparagus should be care- 

 fully performed, not to injure adjoining buds that 

 are starting up. Move the mould a little aside to 

 see, and then close by the head, and with a little 

 slope, cut it cff about three inches below the ground. 

 The knife should have a long narrow blade, and a 

 proper one is indented with teeth as if a saw. It 

 may be cut, when from two {o four inches high ; and 

 let it be regularly done as soon as ready : If it has 

 lain by in a cool place, as in a dairy or cellar, it will 

 keep very well three or four days, to wait for more 

 if occasion be. 



Six rods of well planted ground will produce, jn. 

 the full season, about a hundred a day ; and this, as 

 a rule, will help to determine how much room a pri- 

 vate family should allot for this vegetable. 



BEANS we have several sorts of, differing in size, 

 colour, flower, flavour, hardiness, and time of com- 

 jng in. Of the forward t>ea,ns, the ma%<?gan is ge- 

 nerally preferred, as the earliest, hardiest, most pro- 

 ductive, and pleasant. The Portugal ranks next to 

 it. Of the later sorts, the Windsor stands firsj; as to 

 general estimation for eating ; but it is in most soils 

 rather an idle bearer, f he longpod and 



