186 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN, [MARCH, 



stand upright, and two or three inches below the surface of the 

 ground ; let them be all placed an equal depth, spreading their roots 

 somewhat regular, against the back of the trench, and at the same 

 time drawing a little earth up against them with the hand as you 

 place them, just to fix the plants in their due position, till the row 

 is planted ; when one row is thus finished, immediately, with a rake, 

 draw the earth into a drill over the plants, and then proceed to open 

 another drill or trench, as before directed : plant it in the same man- 

 ner, and cover in the plants as above, and so on till the whole is 

 planted .; then let the surface of the beds be raked smooth, and cleared 

 from stones. 



When the plants come up, keep them always free from weeds ; 

 but in the mean time, be cautious not to sow any early crops what- 

 ever among your young plantations, as is very injudiciously prac- 

 tised by many, for these would smother them in their growth, and 

 greatly retard their progress. 



Let it next be observed, that it will be three years from the time 

 of planting, before the asparagus plants produce buds large enough 

 to cut for use in any general gathering ; though sometimes, in rich, 

 good ground, and a remarkably prosperous growth in the plants 

 in the production of strong shoots, a few of the largest may be cut 

 the second spring after planting ; but I would advise not to cut 

 many, before the third year. 



A plantation of asparagus, if the beds are properly dressed every 

 year, as directed in the spring and autumn months, will continue to 

 produce good buds for ten or twelve years, or more. 



In making new plantations, I have sometimes, instead of putting 

 in young plants, as above directed, sown the seed at once in the 

 beds where the plants are to remain ; and as by that practice the 

 plants are not disturbed by a removal, they consequently cannot 

 fail of producing a regular crop. 



The beds being four feet and a half wide, and prepared as before 

 directed for the plants ; mark out four lines lengthways the beds j 

 then along these lines, at the distance of every nine or ten inches, 

 dot in a few seeds, covering them about an inch deep. When the 

 plants have been come up some time, they must be thinned, leaving 

 only one of the strongest in each place ; and carefully clear them 

 from weeds. 



A plantation of asparagus, thus raised, will produce buds fit to 

 cut the third spring after sowing, but will be very large and fine the 

 fourth year. 



For forcing asparagus see February page 115. 



Solving Asparagus Seed, 



This seed may be sown about the middle, or towards the latter 

 end of the month, on four feet wide beds, of rich earth. Sow it 

 tolerably thin on the surface, clap it in with the back of a spade, 

 cover it a little better than half an inch deep with earth out of the 

 allies, and then rake the beds smooth. 



