146 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



them during the period preceding their removal to permanent 

 quarters. Some growers prefer to reduce the period of waiting 

 by buying roots and so getting a cut about two years from 

 the time of planting. 



Raising the Plants. The ground in which the seed is to be 

 sown should be rich and well prepared by deep working during 

 the previous winter, being left " ridged up " so that wind, rain, 

 and frost may have full effect in rendering it mellow and 

 friable. Previous to sowing, which should take place towards 

 the end of March or early in April, when the surface soil is 

 dry, the ridges should be pulled down and the soil raked level 

 and smooth. Seed should be sown very thinly in drills from 

 lin. to liin. deep and 1ft. apart. After sowing, the seed is 

 covered with soil by using the back of a rake or the side of the 

 foot, and trodden in, the work being finished by rolling the 

 whole bed. As the seed is slow to germinate it is a good plan 

 to sow with it a few radish seeds ; these soon appear, and by 

 marking the rows enable cultivation to be begun at once, so 

 that weeds, which must not be tolerated at any time, have no 

 chance to make headway before the seedlings show. After 

 they are well up they should be thinned out by removing the 

 weakest and leaving the strongest standing about 3m. apart. 

 When they are growing freely they should be dressed with 

 soot, at the rate of 20 bushels to the acre. 



During the summer, water should be given copiously in dry 

 weather and the surface soil kept loose by hoeing, but this 

 must be done carefully so as not to injure the roots of the 

 plants, which run close to the surface. If the seedlings are 

 treated in the manner indicated they will make good strong 

 plants the first year and be ready to set out permanently the 

 following spring, thus saving a year of time ; not only that, but 

 it has been fully demonstrated by many carefully conducted 

 experiments, and is now recognized by many of the foremost 

 growers of Asparagus, that strong, healthy plants of one year's 

 growth, when transplanted strike root sooner and with more 

 certainty and give better results than those of two years, 

 whilst they are ready for cutting quite as soon. 



Essential Points to be Observed in Forming a Plantation. 

 The ground intended for the permanent plantation must be 



