116 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [FEB. 



rain or snow, till the buds begin to appear ; when you are to give 

 them another covering of three or four inches of the same kind of 

 mould as before, so that the crowns may be covered in the whole 

 about six inches deep. 



But it must be remarked, that for the first week or fortnight 

 after the bed is made, and the asparagus planted, that the state of 

 its warmth should be every day carefully examined, for that pur- 

 pose, thrust two or three sharp pointed sticks down betwixt 

 the roots into the dung, in different parts of the bed ; when upon 

 drawing up the sticks, once or twice a day, and feeling the lower 

 ends, you can readily judge of the degree of heat ; which if found 

 very violent, threatening to burn the earth and scorch the roots of 

 the plants, it must be moderated, by boring, with a long thick 

 stake, several wide holes in the dung, on each side of the bed, also 

 in the earth just under the roots, to admit the air, and to let the rank 

 steam and burning quality of the dung- pass off more freely ; but, 

 when the heat is become moderate, the holes must be closed again. 



Likewise observe, when the heat is on the decline, it will be very 

 proper to lay a quantity of dry long litter round the sides of the 

 bed, which will preserve a fine kindly growing heat, and will defend 

 the bed from being chilled by heavy rains, snow, &c. 



In the next place when you find the heat of the bed beginning to 

 decline considerably, you should prepare to renew it as soon as pos- 

 sible : which is to be done by applying a lining of hot dung to the 

 sides as for cucumber and melon beds. 



Fresh air must be admitted in fine weather daily, especially if the 

 heat of the bed is strong when the buds begin to appear through 

 this last covering of earth ; for fresh air is necessary both to give 

 thorn colour, and prevent their drawing up too fast and weak : there- 

 fore in fine sunny days, either tilt the upper ends of the lights an 

 inch or two, or shove them a little down, as may be convenient ; 

 but keep them close in cold or very bad weather, and always on 

 nights. 



Continue to cover the glasses every night especially after the 

 plants appear, with mats or straw. 



The bed, if made and managed as above directed, will begin to 

 produce asparagus abundantly in four or five weeks ; and, provided 

 the heat be kept up, will continue producing buds in great plenty 

 for about three weeks. 



The method of gathering the asparagfis in hot-beds is to thrust 

 your finger down gently into the earth, and break the buds off close 

 to the roots; but the cutting them with the knife, as practised'in 

 the natural ground, would, by reason of the buds coming up so very 

 thick, destroy as many or more than you gather. 



When it is intended to have a constant supply of asparagus in 

 the winter and spring seasons, till that in the natural ground comes 

 in, you should make a ne\v hot-bed every three weeks or a month. 



A quantity of fresh plants must also be procured for every new 

 bed ; for those which have been forced in a hot-bed, are not fit for 

 any use aftenvards, either in the natural ground, or elsewhere. 



