44 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



and of moral obligations. When I say that 

 the asparagus had grown six feet in seven 

 days, I expect and wish to be believed. I 

 am a little particular about the statement ; 

 for, if there is any prize offered for aspara- 

 gus at the next agricultural fair, I wish to 

 compete, speed to govern. What I claim 

 is the fastest asparagus. As for eating pur- 

 poses, I have seen better. A neighbor of 

 mine, who looked in at the growth of the bed, 



said, " Well, he 'd be : " but I told him 



there was no use of affirming now ; he might 

 keep his oath till I wanted it on the aspara- 

 gus affidavit. In order to have this sort of 

 asparagus, you want to manure heavily in 

 the early spring, fork it in, and top-dress 

 (that sounds technical) with a thick layer of 

 chloride of sodium : if you cannot get that, 

 common salt will do, and the neighbors will 

 never notice whether it is the orthodox Na. 

 Cl. 58.5, or not. 



I scarcely dare trust myself to speak of 

 the weeds. They grow as if the devil was 

 in them. I know a lady, a member of the 



