GARDENING. 61 



DIRECTIONS 



FOR CULTIVATING THE MOST PROFITABLE GARDEN 

 VEGETABLES. 



ARTICHOKE — Aftichaut. 



It should be planted in April and May, in fine rich 

 earth, three-fourths of an inch deep. In the course of 

 the season, cauliflowers, spinach, lettuce, &c. can be 

 sown between the rows. In the after culture, keep it 

 free from weeds by hoeing between the rows, which 

 should be about five feet apart, with the plants two feet 

 asunder in the row. 



This, with occasional waterings in the dry weather 

 of summer, is all the culture which they require. 



ASPARAGUS — Asperge. 



This delicious esculent vegetable, after due prepara- 

 tion of the ground, is easily cultivated. It requires a 

 rich sandy loam, well manured to the depth of two and 

 a half feet, and raised one foot above the alleys: — then, 

 in addition, a good quantity of manure, well trenched in, 

 fifteen inches below the surface. A plantation of one 

 square rod is little enough for a family; and to plant 

 this requires about one quart of seed. It should be 

 sown in April or May, or three weeks before frosts in 

 autumn, in rows, nine inches distant. That which is 

 sown in the fall, should be well littered to nearly a foot 

 thick, to protect the tender plants through the first win- 

 ter. Let the crop, the first and second year, and nearly 

 all the third year, run up to seed. Water it occasion- 

 ally till the third or fourth year — loosen the ground 

 every spring before budding, with a proper fork, and 

 keep it clean of weeds during the season. At the ap- 

 proach of winter, cover it with a layer of dung to the 

 depth of an inch or more. 



In the third or fourth year, according to the perfec- 

 tion of the plants, cut the shoots for use, three inches 



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