THE AMERICAN GARDENER. W 



great convenience for weeding, and for cutting^ the as- 

 paragus. After this, you are to cut down the haulm in 

 the fall, cover with litter during winter, fork up and oc- 

 casionally manure in the spring, to keep the ground con- 

 stantly free from weeds, to dig paths up every fall, and 

 keep them clear from weeds in summer. 



The second method of making the beds is, to begin 

 with plants, 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. Plant them at the same 

 depth that is pointed out for depositing the seed. And, 

 in all other respects, proceed as in the case of a bed be- 

 gun with seed. As to the time of beginning to cut, 

 some say the third year, some the fourth, and some even ■ 

 the fifth. There can be no fixed time; for, so much 

 depends on the soil and treatment. Asparagus, like 

 other things, ought to be used when it comes in perfec- 

 tion, and not before. All that has here been said pro- 

 ceeds upon the supposition that the soil has a dry bot- 

 tom. If a wet bottom, sow or plant at the top of the 

 ground, and in all other respects proceed as in the case 

 of a dry bottom ; except, that the earth to cover the 

 bed with must, time after time, be dug out of the paths, 

 which will, at last, make the paths into ditches, three 

 feet deep from the tops of the beds. By these means 

 the roots of the plants will be kept some years longer 

 from reaching the cold, sour soil, at the bottom ; for, 

 whenever they reach that, the plants, like all others, 

 cease to flourish, and begin to decay. 



Asparagus may be had in winter with the greatest 

 facility. There are but few things that are worth the 

 trouble of a hot-bed for the purpose of having them to 

 eat in their opposite season ; but asparagus is worth it. 

 And this is the way to have it for the table, even in 

 February, that month of snow and of north-westers. 



BALM 



Is an herb purely medicinal. A very little of it is suf- 



