ASPARAGUS. 15 



being allowed to run to stalk each summer. It is 

 also necessary, when it is intended to force aspa- 

 ragus annually, that some seed should be sown 

 every spring, and a due quantity of plants trans- 

 planted, as before directed, by this practice. After 

 the three first years, an annual succession of plants, 

 fit for forcing, may be procured. But where only 

 a small quantity of buds is required, and it is incon- 

 venient to wait for the raising of the plants from 

 seed, they may always be purchased at a reasonable 

 price from any respectable nurseryman, who gene- 

 rally grows them for this purpose, and also for 

 the natural ground plantations. 



Asparagus is usually forced on bark or dung 

 hot-beds, prepared on the open ground ; but latterly 

 flued pits have been held in much estimation for 

 this purpose, as they force with greater success, 

 and with much less labour, than dung hot-beds. 

 In preparing the dung for hot-beds, more attention 

 is necessary than is generally given, especially to 

 those made throughout the winter. 



For the bed, a quantity of good, long, fresh horse 

 dung is requisite, which must be thrown together 

 in a heap, for four or five days, to ferment ; after that 

 time it should be regularly turned two or three 

 times, that its rancidity may be evaporated ; then 

 select a convenient spot, and make it up into a 

 bed three feet six inches high, and ten or twelve 

 inches larger, all round, than the size of the frames 

 which are to be set upon it. 



Hot-beds for asparagus are generally made on 

 level ground ; but a better way would be to dig a 

 trench about a foot deep ; and, if the earth thrown 



