KITCHEN-GARDENING. 39 



of Asparagus by cutting off every shoot as soon as it is a few 

 inches high. One stalk at least should be allowed to grow 

 unmolested in every crown after the third or fourth cutting. 

 If the young shoots be cut off for several successive weeks, 

 the top formed in the latter part of the season will be small 

 and the growth feeble. 



No fertilizing material should be applied to Asparagus in 

 the spring but lime or salt. During the winter it is an excel- 

 lent practice to throw all the soapsuds from the kitchen on 

 the asparagus-beds ; but as soon as the growing season com- 

 mences, let salt be spread over the entire surface, until the 

 ground appears as if covered with snow. Such a liberal dress- 

 ing of salt will destroy all weeds and grass, and promote the 

 growth of Asparagus. 



Asparagus-plants will not produce buds large enough to cut 

 for general use in less than three years from the time of plant- 

 ing ; but in the fourth year, when the shoots are three or four 

 inches high, they will bear extensive cutting, which should, 

 however, be discontinued when no large buds are thrown up. 

 The best way of cutting is to slip the knife down perpendicu- 

 larly close to each shoot, and cut it off slantingly about three or 

 four inches beneath the ground, taking care not to wound any 

 young buds proceeding from the same root, for there are 

 always several shoots advancing in different stages of growth. 



Asparagus is considered a wholesome vegetable, and should 

 not be kept long after it is gathered. After being well washed, 

 it may be tied in bundles of about a dozen buds each, and 

 boiled in water, slightly seasoned with salt, until tender, which 

 will be in about twenty mhiutes. Take it up before it loses 

 its true color and flavor, and serve it up on toasted bread with 

 melted butter. Asparagus will never grow luxuriantly when 

 there is an excess of moisture in the soil. Bone-dust is 

 excellent as a dressing for asparagus-beds, if applied in late 

 autumn. Guano and hen manure are also the best kinds of 

 manure for asparagus. If the soil is heavy, apply a thin 

 dressing of sand evry season with the manure. 



