l8 THE FORCING GARDENER. [B. I. 



ftitute, I would recommend light, fandy r 

 mixed with a fourth part of vegetable, 

 mould. Indeed I am convinced, that en- 

 tire vegetable mould produced from de- 

 cayed tree leaves, would be the beft for 

 forcing Afparagus in :- but this I do not 

 know from practice ; as I have ever found 

 that article too precious an ingredient for 

 more valuable purpofes, to lavifh it on 

 the forcing of t Afparagus. But, to wave 

 this confederation, I do not think it is very 

 material in what kind of mould Afparagus 

 be forced, provided it be light enough ; as 

 I am convinced, from long obfervation, that 

 the roots draw little nourifhment from the 

 mould, a fmall degree of moiflure being 

 all that is neceflary to the production of 

 their buds, after which the roots perifli. 

 My only reafon for ufing old tan was, the 

 fcarcity of light, or vegetable mould, and 

 the plenty of the former (otherwife almoft 

 ufelefs) article. But this much I can af- 

 firm, that, by the ufe of tan, the grafs may 

 be produced five or fix days fooner, in as 

 high perfection, and with a better colour, 

 (provided it be ufed perfectly dry,) than 

 with mould of any kind. 



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