I FORCING ASPARAGUS. 



mencement of the operations. For the purpose of keeping 

 up a regular heat, a lining of hot dung should be applied 

 around the frame, and changed as occasion requires. 



Provide plants from two to four, or even six years old, 

 trim their roots, and place them in rows on the beds ; when 

 one row is laid, strew a little mould among the roots, then 

 proceed in the same way with one row after another, keep- 

 ing them on a level, as the surface of the bed at first lay, 

 till you have finished planting them ; then lay among the 

 buds and roots some fine vegetable, or other rich mould, 

 working it in amongst them with your fingers, and cover the 

 beds over about an inch thick> and above that lay three 

 inches in depth of vegetable mould not very rotten, old tan, 

 oj" any other light compost, that will admit the water to run 

 quickly through. 



If there be a strong heat in the bed, slide down the 

 sashes till it begins to decline. The temperature at night 

 should never be under 50 and it may rise to 65 without 

 injury ; when the buds begin to appear, as much air must 

 be daily admitted as the weather will permit. In two or 

 three days after the beds are planted, the heat will begm 

 to rise : the beds should then have a moderate supply of 

 water applied from a watering pot with the rose on ; repeat 

 such watering every three or four days. 



When the buds are up three inches above the surface, 

 they are. fit to gather for use, as they will then be six or seven 

 inches in length. In gathering them, draw aside a little of 

 the mould, slip down the finger and thumb, twist them oft' 

 from the crown : this is a better method than to cut them ; 

 at least it is less dangerous to the rising buds r which come 

 up thick in succession. 



An ordinary sized frame calculated for three sashes will 

 hold from three hundred to five hundred plants, according to, 

 the age and size, and will, if properly managed, yield a 

 dish every day for about three weeks. On the above esti- 

 mate, if a constant succession of Asparagus be required, it 

 will be necessary to plant a bed every eighteen or twenty 

 days. 



