ASPARAGUS. 



29 



The above directions are intended for family gardens. 

 Those who may wish to raise Asparagus in large quantities 

 for market, should prepare the ground with a plough/and 

 plant two rows in each bed, which may be carried to any 

 length required. If several beds are intended, they may be 

 planted in single rows four or five feet apart, in order that 

 the plough may be worked freely between them. Frequent 

 ploughing will cause the roots to spread, so as to widen the 

 beds, and the winter dressing may be performed in a great 

 measure with the plough. After the Asparagus is eut, the 

 ground between the beds may be ploughed, and planted 

 with Cabbage, Potatoes, or any other vegetable, usually cul- 

 tivated in rows. 



Winter Dressing of Asparagus Beds. 

 About the begining of November, if the stalks of your 

 Asparagus turn yellow, which is a sign of their having 

 finished their growth for the season, cut them down close to 

 the earth, carry them off the ground, and clear the beds 

 carefully from weeds. 



Asparagus beds must have an annual dressing of good 

 manure ; let it be laid equally over the beds, two or tliree 

 inches thick, after which, with a fork made for the purpose, 

 (which should have three flat tines,) dig in the dung quite 

 down to the crowns of the plants, by which means the roots 

 will be greatly benefitted ; as the winter rams will wash the 

 manure down amongst them. It is the practice with some 

 gardeners to dig the alleys at every autumn dressing, and 

 to cover the beds with the soil so taken out ; this may be 

 done for the first two years after the beds are made, but not 

 afterwards ; as, when the plants are in full growth, their 

 roots and crowns extend into the alleys, and the digging 

 them out frequently destroys plants, or renders them too 

 weak to produce buds in perfection. The beds will be 

 greatly benefitted if covered to the depth of several inches 

 with leaves, sea-weed, or long litter from the livery stables. 



The seedling Asparagus should also have a slightdress- 

 iag, t4iat is> to clear the bed from weeds, and then to spread 



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