18 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



when the asparagus shoots begin to advance, to 

 admit as much light and sun as possible, to produce 

 a green colour in the top of the buds ; if the heat 

 is moderate, the glasses need only be opened a 

 little way in fine days, so as to allow any steam to 

 pass off, especially if the plants are required to be 

 drawn up quickly. By admitting a larger portion 

 of air, the buds will rise slower, but will acquire a 

 larger size, better flavour, and greener colour; 

 hence you may sometimes, in the spring-made beds, 

 take the glasses off entirely for a few hours on a 

 warm dry day, particularly when the heat of the 

 bed is considerable, on the first appearance of the 

 buds after the bed is planted. 



After the bed has been made two or three weeks, 

 and it is observed not to heat kindly, or rather to 

 decline, it will be proper to line the outside with 

 some fresh warm dung, which will forward and 

 revive the heat more effectually. 



When the asparagus bed is planted, and the heat 

 has begun to warm the roots, give the plants a 

 good watering from out of a pot with a rose on it ; 

 let the bed have enough to moisten the mould well 

 and to wash it in among the roots. Repeat the 

 watering occasionally ; it is, however, advisable to be 

 sparing in the use of water at this season of the 

 year. 



The asparagus is generally fit for cutting about 

 five or six weeks after the planting of the beds, or 

 when the shoots are advanced four or five inches 

 above the surface of the earth. 



In gathering the buds in hot-beds, it is best to 

 break them off as close to the bottom as possible, 



