AGRICULTURE. 115 



place them properly, they afford us great protection 

 against the rude blasts from these points of the com- 

 pass. How easily all this is accomplished ! and yet 

 how few have a single evergreen nearer their houses 

 than the forests ! 



When we ride or walk, in cold weather, on the 

 southern side of a natural evergreen wood-lot, how 

 balmy the air, and hov/ agreeable the scene, compared 

 with that of a northern exposure ! 



Dwelling-houses, in our chill climate, should ever be 

 placed in such position that they may be easily pro- 

 tected from the cold blasts of winter; but nothing 

 should obstruct the free passage of the southwest, or 

 summer breezes ; and the barns, and yards, and hog- 

 stye should never be built on the southv/est or west 

 side of the dwelling-house. 



ASPARAGUS. 



He who has a good bed of asparagus has his peas 

 ready sown, and may pluck an earlier mess than he 

 who sows in spring. 



This plant is the best substitute for green peas, 

 which it much resembles in taste, and great quantities 

 are easily raised at small expense. As soon as the frost 

 is out, some of our richest manure should be hoed in 

 upon the beds, chopping all the ground over two or 

 three inches deep. Then the soil may be stirred every 

 day or two to keep the weeds down until the plant 

 comes up ; for you cannot well hoe it afterwards : if 

 your manure was laid on the beds last fall, your aspar- 

 agus will be the earlier this spring. When you crop 

 the tops, cut down even with the surface of the soil, 

 or lower ; for you want nothing but a tender stalk to 

 boil. 



