FEB.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



When designed to raise asparagus plants for forcing, you should 

 sow some seed every year, in a bed of rich earth, as directed in. 

 March ; observing, when the plants are one year old, to transplant 

 them into an open compartment, in rows, nine inches asunder, and 

 about the same distance in the rows. When they have two or 

 three summers' growth, they are then fit to take up for forcing ; 

 but if they stand three years before you take them up, they will 

 produce much larger buds. 



It is necessary to have three different pieces of ground always 

 employed at the same time with asparagus plants for the above 

 purpose : that is, one for the seed-bed with seedling plants, which 

 should never stand longer than one year before transplanted ; the 

 other two pieces to be occupied with transplanted plants ; one to be 

 a year's growth from the time of planting, before the other ; by 

 which method of sowing a quantity of plants every spring, you will, 

 after the first three years, obtain a fresh supply of proper plants 

 every year, of eligible age and growth, as above, for forcing. 



In those states where there is not severe frost to be encountered 

 at this season, asparagus may be forced as directed above, without 

 the assistance of a. frame and lights ; but in lieu thereof, you must 

 arch the bed over with hoops ; and protect it from heavy rains and 

 cold, with bass mats or other convenient covering, laid over these 

 hoops ; and the earth on the beds must be confined, either with a 

 shallow frame or with straw-bands or ropes, three or four inches in 

 diameter ; fixed down neatly along the edge of the bed, with sharp- 

 pointed wooden pegs. 



Mushrooms. 



Take care that the mushroom-beds are still well defended from 

 heavy rains and frost ; both of which would destroy the spawn. 



The covering of straw should not be less than fourteen or six- 

 teen inches thick on every part of t'*e bed ; and at this season, it 

 would be proper to continue some large garden mats, spread over 

 the straw covering, to secure the bed more effectually from wet and 

 cold ; and observing, that if the wet at any time has penetrated 

 quite through any part of the covering, the wet straw should be re- 

 ed, and replaced with some that is clean and dry. 



If these beds are made under open sheds constructed for that 

 purpose, it will be a great advantage, particularly in protecting 

 them from too much wet, which is very injurious to them, especi- 

 ally during the winter season. 



New mushroom-beds may now be made where wanted ; for the 

 particular method, see October. 



Kidney Scans. 



Where early kidney-beans are wanted, you may in the begin- 

 ning, or any time this month, make a hot-bed for raising them ; let 

 this be made, as directed for cucumbers, to the height of three feet, 

 and long enough for one or more frames, which, with their glasses, 



