OF ESCULEX'IS. SECT. XV.. 



Its natural place of growth being the sea-beach, it 

 is evident that a sandy soil will suit it best. Some 

 people cultivate it in almost all sand, which, if it is 

 the natural soil of the place, is proper, as such sur- 

 face sand is endowed with good vegetable princi- 

 ples ; but when a soil is made, it should be one half 

 sharp, or drift sand, and the other half any light rich 

 mould, which may be a little gravelly, or mixed with 

 sea-coal ashes. Sow, or plant, either in autumn, or 

 spring. 



It is a root that lasts many years, and therefore 

 should at first be properly planted and managed ; 

 either in beds of it, like those of asparagus, (the 

 which, it precedes for use) of four feet and a half 

 wide, and two feet alleys between ; or in single rows 

 of long trenches, which is the better way. They are 

 best raised from seed, though often from offsets, or 

 pkces of the roots, having two or three eyes on 

 them. 



The beds must be trenched, and of a dry loose 

 earth, (as said) to two, or two and a half feet deep ; 

 and if there is any suspicion of wet ever hanging at 

 bottom, lay a good course of rough gravel or stones 

 there. The plants should be near a foot asunder, 

 kept five or six inches below the surface, that they 

 may grow through a body of earth to blanch the 

 sprouts ; and they are to be cut up four or five 

 inches deep, soon after they appear above ground. 

 In summer, the ribs of the large leaves may be 

 peeled, and eat as asparagus. They will want 

 earthing up from the alleys every year, to keep them 

 at the above depth ; for which purpose, there should 

 be proper earth in them. It is evidently best to 

 now, or plant, low enough at first, to be prepared for 

 future earthing up ; but not too low, however, if 

 there is a clay bottom. Sets may be planted at first 

 only three inches deep from their crowns, and earthed 



