VEGETABLE GROWING. 105 



should be grown iu rows three and a half feet apart, and the plants 

 two feet apart in the row. The flower head, which should be taken 

 before it has reached maturity, is the edible portion, and is eaten 

 either cooked or in the raw state. The shoots are sometimes 

 blanched in the same manner as endive, and are then used as a 

 salad. 



Asparagus. — This will thrive on almost any sandy soil, even if 

 quite light ; and the lighter the soil, other things being equal, the 

 earlier the crop may be got off. It may be grown continuously 

 on the same land almost any number of years without being 

 renewed. It takes four years from the sowing of the seed before 

 a full crop can be cut. In preparing the land a liberal dressing of 

 manure should be given, and this should be thoroughly and 

 deeply worked in. In setting the plants, care must be taken to 

 spread the roots out properly, the best plan being to plough out 

 light furrows or drills three and a half or four feet apart, and 

 put the plants a foot apart in the rows. When the plants have 

 become sufficiently established to be fit for cutting, this is fol- 

 lowed up each season until about the first of July, or when green 

 peas begin to come on. After this the tops are allowed to grow 

 until fall, when they are mowed oft' and a liberal dressing of 

 manure is put on. 



This vegetable is one of the best for shipping, and therefore it 

 ma}' be grown at a considerable distance from market, where land 

 is cheaper and where it ma}' be made much more profitable than 

 if grown on the high priced land very near the large cities. The 

 two principal varieties are the Conover's Colossal and Moore's New 

 Giant. The former has long been the leading market sort, but 

 it is claimed that the newer strain is superior in size and quality. 



Beans. — The English or broad varieties are but little grown in 

 this countr}', but are worth}^ of more general cultivation than they 

 have received. They will succeed best in a strong moist soil, 

 and cool situation. They should be planted as early as the ground 

 can be properly fitted in spring, in drills three feet apart, the 

 beans five or six inches apart in the drill. When the pods begin 

 to form it is well to pinch off the ends of the shoots, so as to 

 throw the nourishment into the pods instead of letting it go to in- 

 crease the size of the plants. 



The Bush varieties are quite an important crop in our market 

 gardens, and will succeed best on a rather light sandy loam. 



