ON ASPARAGUS. 217 



THE bottom fhould be very even, and 

 have a good fall to carry off the water (if 

 clay) ; for if there is not a free paflage it 

 rots the roots of all plants that are perma- 

 nent, and it affe&s none fo much as it 

 does afparagus ; fo that imlefs the ground 

 is dry at the bottom, and of a good depth 

 of foil, all endeavours to have it goodwill 

 prove in vain. 



: 



ALL the heft afparagus grows in light 



foils. If the ground is naturally ilifF it 

 muft be made light ; for which purpofe 

 there fhould be as much fand and coal- 

 afhes, finely fifted, mixed up as will make 

 at firft laying twice as many inches as 

 there is of the natural foil (for fand and 

 afhes will not raife the ground in propor- 

 tion to what is laid in, when well mixed 

 with the mould) ; the fand mould be the 

 fharpeft that can be got ; for foft fand, 

 laid in ftifF clay, only binds it fafter. 



MARK out the ground that is intended 

 to be fovvn, and open a trench as deep as 



the 



