2^2 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



beds tor a trencli eighteen to twenty inches wide, which was filled with stable 

 manure, or half manure and half leaves; then frames were placed over the beds 

 and the manure brought up level with the top of the frames. This may be done 

 near large cities, where the manure can generally be had in quantity. I think 

 this method of producing early Asparagus was followed on a large scale years 

 ago in the suburbs of Paris, France, and excellent crops were undoubtedly pro- 

 duced; but the handling of such large bulks of manure involves considerable 

 labor. With us here it is a question of getting the largest results with the least 

 outlay of labor, and this is best done by forcing lifted plants, although they may 

 be useless afterward and are therefore a loss. But aside from this disadvantage, 

 Asparagus does not require much labor and hardly any coal, as it may be forced 

 under a bench of other crops, in space that is not needed for anything else. So 

 taking everything into consideration it is not an "expensive crop. Any of the 

 standard varieties will submit to the forcing process. 



