KITCHEN-GARDENING. 37 



the hand as you place them, just to fix the plants in their due 

 position until the row is planted. When one row is thus 

 placed, draw the earth into the trench over the plants with a 

 rake or hoe, and then proceed to open another drill or trench, 

 as before directed ; and fill and cover it in the same manner, 

 and so on till the whole is planted. Then let the surface of 

 the beds be raked smooth, and the stones removed. 



Some gardeners, with a view to have extra large heads, 

 place their plants sixteen inches apart in the rows, instead 

 of twelve ; and by planting them in the quincunx manner 

 that is, by commencing the second row eight inches from the 

 end of the first, and the fourth even with the second the 

 plants will form rhomboidal squares, instead of rectangular 

 ones, and every plant will thus have room to expand its roots 

 and leaves, growing very luxuriantly. 



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 wanted, 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 cut, the 

 ground between the beds may be ploughed, and planted with 

 Cabbage, Potatoes, or any other vegetable usually cultivated 

 in rows. 



WINTER DRESSING OF ASPARAGUS-BEDS. 



About the beginning of November, if the stalks of Aspa- 

 ragus 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 three 



