THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



square rod, but it is not a plant food and only 

 serves as a weed killer for a very short time. If 

 one wishes very early asparagus, one should plant 

 it in rows running east and west and with a sunny 

 southern exposure and protected on the north by 

 a high wall or building. A rough board frame 

 around the beds, covered with sash, may be pro- 

 vided and this well banked with rough litter during 

 winter. In February this is removed and the frames 

 filled with fresh manure, which should also be 

 banked about the outside of the frames. Part of 

 the inside manure will need to be removed as soon 

 as growth begins and the sashes lifted during the 

 warmer part of the day to admit air. As soon as 

 the weather becomes warm the sash and frames 

 may be removed and the beds given the usual treat- 

 ment. 



Asparagus is successfully forced in warm cellars 

 by lifting clumps of roots in the fall and placing 

 them on the floor of the cellar, as is done with 

 rhubarb. It is, of course, necessary that the plants 

 become frozen for some time before forcing and 

 that the cellar be warm and dark, or that light 

 should be shut away from the immediate vicinity 



of the plants by turning boxes or barrels over 



[210] 



