iS4 The Gardener's New Director. 



part of old dung, and a fmall quantity of unflaked lime; 

 thefe were laid in an heap, to be turned every fortnight 

 or three weeks, to ferment, mix, and rot, fo as to be 

 fit to land up the plants about tlie latter end of Ot^obert 

 the fpring following I dug this compoft into the earth, 

 whereby I had extraordinary fruit, with very large bot- 

 toms. Obferve never to dung Artichoke-land but once 

 in three years, but to lay very rich land to them every 

 winter. 



When you fmooth your ground in March, between thefe 

 plants, it will be proper to remove the earth from a- 

 bout their roots with a ipade, and with your hand take 

 off all the ofF-fets or eyes, leaving no more than two 

 good ones for fruit; and fliould any more afterwards ap- 

 pear, take them up ; obferving never to allow n.ore than 

 one fruit upon a flalk, and when you cut your fru t, cut 

 down the ftalk almoft clofe to the ground, as before di- 

 refled. This 'was my p'a6fice in tlie culture of Arti-' 

 chokes, by which I excelled Shou'd your Arrichokes 

 prove weak in the Iprmg, hill them up with rich earthj 

 and they will recover, 



A SPARAGUS. 



HEN yen have provided yonrfelf with feed, 

 , , which fhould i'evcr be taken, but from plants 

 that have never been cut, and have been marked for 

 their fuperior excellence; lay out a fpot of rich, light 

 garden-eai th, into beds five feet broadj with an alley of 

 one foot and a half. Take the feed the day before you 

 fow it, and put it into a veflel with water, when what 

 are good will fink to the bottom, and what are hufky 

 and empty will fwim, which are to be thrown away ; then 

 take your line, make five or fix rows in this bed, and 

 therein drop your (ee(\?, three by three, at half an inch 

 diftancp, covering them with an inch and a half of earth; 

 keep them quite clear Irom weeds during the fummer, 

 and if Jpril and May prove very dry, give them a little 

 water. In O^obery when you perceive their ftraw or 

 haulm turn yellow, cut it down, and laying two inches 



of 



