220 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [MARCH 



the United States. It grows to the greatest possible perfection 

 among the Tartarian mountains, from Selin to Thibet, without any 

 other culture than what is afforded by the scraping of the Marmots ; 

 and shall we despair of bringing it to perfection where soil and cli- 

 mate are perfectly congenial, and nothing wanted but the enterprise 

 of a few spirited individuals to make a commencement ? There is 

 no doubt that if the culture cf this and liquorice were duly attended 

 to that the crops would more than amply repay the cultivators ; 

 and although a partiality to articles of customary culture is in the 

 way, it is to be hoped that new and necessary plants will, from time 

 to time, be introduced and cultivated with advantage to the indi- 

 viduals and the nation at large. 



The following is the mode of its culture : Having procured a suf- 

 ficient quantity of seed of the true kind, select a piece of light rich 

 sandy loam, such as answers for asparagus, and after giving it a good 

 coat of manure, trench it two or three spades deep, if the good soil 

 admits ; after which, level the top neatly and lay it out by line into 

 squares of four feet, at the angles or intersections of which you are 

 to form little circles with your finger about six or eight inches in 

 diameter, and on each scatter a few seeds, then cover them with light 

 fine mould three-quarters of an inch deep. The seeds should be 

 sown as early in spring as possible, or, if this had been done in No- 

 vember, they would vegetate in spring with more certainty. When 

 the young plants appear, keep them free from weeds, and in dry 

 weather give them frequently a little water, but not much at a time; 

 and above all things protect them from the mid- day sun till they get 

 considerably strong, for, if exposed fully to this, during their infant 

 state, few of them would escape destruction thereby. Were you to 

 place a piece of board on end, about fifteen inches broad and two feet 

 and a half high, at the south side of each hill, leaning a little over 

 the plants, this would answer the end effectually without depriving 

 them of the benefit of the circulating air. The first season is their 

 critical period, having survived that they have nothing to fear after- 

 wards. Onions, lettuces, or any other low-growing crops may be 

 either sown or planted in the intervals for the first year, so that they 

 are kept at a proper distance from the young plants. The supernu- 

 merary plants, one being sufficient to be left in each of these places 

 for ultimate perfection, may be transplanted the spring following 

 into new plantations, similarly prepared and at the same distance. 



The November following, all the leaves being then decayed, cover 

 the crowns of the plants two inches deep with earth from the inter- 

 vals ; and if there is danger of any wet lodging, throw up trenches, 

 rounding the beds as is commonly done to asparagus, and for the 

 first winter, lay some dry litter over the plants. In the March fol- 

 lowing, strip the covering till you just perceive the tops of the plants, 

 give all the ground a slight digging and dress it neatly after you, 

 observing to keep the beds well hoed, and always free from weeds. 



Thus proceed every autumn and spring, till the roots have four 

 years' growth, when some of them may be taken up for use; but it 

 is generally admitted that their medicinal virtues increase until they 

 are eight or ten years old. 



