112 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



earth over the bed, out of the paths, three incites 

 thick, and break it very fine at the time. In the 

 fall, cut down the haulm again as before ; repeat 

 the winter operation of littering ; and, in the spring 

 again fork up, put on ashes or good mould, and 

 the other three inches dee/i of earth out of the 

 paths. Thus you bring the beds to be an inch 

 or two higher than the paths ; and this year, if 

 your work have all been well done, you may have 

 some asparagus to eat. The next fall, and every 

 succeeding fall, cut down the haulm and cover 

 with litter as before ; and, in the spring, of this 

 third year, put on ashes again, or other fine ma- 

 nure, and throw over the beds the earth that will 

 come out of the paths dug six inches deep. This 

 will make the paths six inches lower than the 

 beds, and that is a great convenience for weeding 

 and for cutting the Asparagus. After this, you 

 are to cut down the hauim in the fail, cover with 

 litter during winter, fork up and occasionally ma- 

 nure in the spring, to keep the ground constantly 

 free from weeds, to dig the paths up every fall, 

 and keep them clear from weeds in summer.- 

 The second method of making the beds is to begin 

 vri'^hfilants, instead of seed. The plants (raised as 

 above stated) may be planted in the beds at one 

 year old, or older, if it so happen. Plane them 

 at the same depth that is pointed out for deposit' 

 ing the seed. And, in all other respects, proceed 

 as in the case of a bed begun with seed. As to the 

 time of beginning to cut, some say the third year, 

 some the fourth, and some even thejifth. There 

 can be \\ofixedtime ; for, so much depends on the 

 soil and treatment. Asparagus, like other thing?, 

 ought to be used when it comes in perfection, and 



