ASPARAGUS. 7 



2. The Gravesend asparagus is more green- 

 topped, and not generally so plump and close, but 

 is reckoned better flavoured. Both varieties are 

 held in great estimation. 



3. The Giant asparagus is greatly extolled by the 

 London seedsmen, on account of its size ; but the 

 author considers the secret to lie in the quality of 

 the soil, for occasionally buds of immense thickness 

 are produced in common beds; and in the Gardener's 

 Magazine there is an account of sixty buds having 

 been cut near Leeds, in Yorkshire, which weighed 

 nearly seven pounds. 



Culture. The middle of March, or thereabouts, 

 if the weather is suitable, will be found a good 

 time to sow the seed in quantity, according to the 

 number of plants required for a small garden. A 

 pound of seed will produce a requisite number of 

 plants. 



> The seed is generally sown broad-cast on a four 

 foot bed, but by far the better way is to sow it thinly 

 in drills, about two inches deep and fifteen inches 

 from row to row. It should be slightly trodden in, 

 and the bed made smooth with the rake ; the ground 

 must be kept as free of weeds as possible, and 

 stirred with the hoe two or three times during the 

 summer. If the soil is not very rich, some good 

 rotten dung must be dug in before sowing the seed, 

 as strong one-year 's plants are the best for trans- 

 planting. About the end of the following October, 

 some stable litter should be spread over the ground 

 to protect the young roots from the frost. 



The best ground for asparagus is a light, rich, 

 sandy loam. The soil should not be less than two 

 B 4 



