MARCH] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 203 



A plantation of asparagus, if the beds are properly dressed every 

 year, as directed in the spring and autumn months, will continue to 

 produce good buds for ten or twelve years or more. 



In making new plantations, I have sometimes, instead of putting 

 in young plants as above directed, sown the seed at once in beds 

 where the plants are to remain ; and, as by that practice the plants 

 are not disturbed by a removal, they consequently cannot fail of pro- 

 ducing a regular crop. 



The beds being four feet and a half wide, and prepared as before 

 directed for the plants, mark out four lines lengthways the beds ; 

 then along these line, at the distance of every nine or ten inches, 

 dot in a few seeds, covering them about an inch deep. When the 

 plants have been come up some time, they must be thinned, leaving 

 only one of the strongest in each place, and carefully clear them from 

 weeds. 



A plantation of asparagus thus raised, will produce buds fit to cut 

 the third spring after sowing, but will be very large and fine the 

 fourth year. 



For forcing asparagus, see February, page 128. 



SOWING ASPARAGUS SEED. 



This seed may be sown about the middle, or towards the latter end 

 of the month, on four feet wide beds of rich earth. Sow it tolerably 

 thin on the surface, clap it in with the back of a spade, cover it a 

 little better than half an inch deep with earth out of the alleys, and 

 then rake the beds smooth. 



Or it may be sown thinly in drills, six inches asunder, and covered 

 the same depth as above ; give the beds, both before and after the 

 plants are up, occasional waterings to strengthen them and forward 

 their growth; and they must be kept very free from weeds, by a 

 careful hand-weeding at different times during the summer. 



When a quantify of asparagus for forcing is annually required, 

 you must act as directed in February, page 128. 



SOWING BEET SEED. 



You may now sow some of the different sorts of beet ; the red for 

 its large root, and the green and white sorts for their leaves in soups, 

 stewing, &c. 



For this purpose make choice of a piece of rich deep ground ; lay 

 it out into four feet wide beds, push the loose earth into the alleys, 

 then sow the seed tolerably thin and cover it with the earth out of 

 these alleys to about three-quarters of an inch deep. Or let drills be 

 drawn with a hoe, near an inch deep, and a foot or a little more asun- 

 der; drop the seeds thinly therein and cover them over the same 

 depth as above. Or you may sow the seed on a piece of ground, 

 rough after being dug, and rake it well in. 



Likewise you may now sow the Mangel Wurtzel, root of scarcity, 

 or great German beet, for its large leaves to boil as spinage, its thick 

 fleshy leaf-stalks to dress as asparagus, and its roots for boiling before 



