Notes and Gleanings. 229 



Asparagus. — M. H. L. asks us for a little information about asparagus. 

 We have the promise of a very thorough paper on this vegetable from one of 

 our correspondents, a practical cultivator ; but it has not yet come to hand : and 

 we think we cannot do better meantime than to quote from Mr. Fearing Burr's 

 " Garden Vegetables of America." Mr. Burr says, — 



" Soil and Planting. — A deep, rich, mellow soil is best adapted to the growth 

 of asparagus. In the forming of a plantation, cold and wet situations should 

 be avoided ; and a sandy subsoil, where it can be obtained^ should be preferred 

 to a subsoil of clay or gravel. 



" Before planting out the roots, the ground should be thoroughly trenched two 

 feet or more in depth. As the soil can hardly be made too rich, incorporate in 

 the process of trenching a very liberal quantity of well-decomposed manure 

 with a free mixtu.e of common salt. 



" Lay out the land in beds five feet apart, and running north and south, or 

 east and west, as may be most convenient. Along these beds set three rows 

 of roots, the outer rows being a foot from the borders of the bed, and the roots 

 a foot from each other in the rows. 



"The roots may be set in April, or early in May. Throw out a trench, along 

 the length of the bed, ten inches or a foot in width, and deep enough to allow 

 the crowns to be covered three or four inches beneath the surface. There are 

 various methods of placing the roots in the trench. Some spread them out like 

 a fan against the side ; some form little hillocks of fine soil, over which the 

 roots are spread, extending like the sticks of an umbrella ; others make a ridge 

 along the centre of the trench, and spread the roots on either side ; while others 

 remove the soil from the bed, rake the surface smooth, and spread out the roots 

 at right angles on. the level, afterwards replacing the soil, covering to the depth 

 of about three inches. 



" During the summer, nothing will be necessary but to keep the plants clear 

 of weeds ; and, in doing this, the hoe should be dispensed with as much as pos- 

 sible, to avoid injuring the roots. In the autumn, when the tops have completely 

 withered, they should be cut down nearly level with the surface of the ground, 

 and burned. The beds should then be lightly dug over, and two or three inches 

 of rich loam, intermixed with well-digested compost, and salt at the rate of two 

 quarts to the square rod, should be applied ; which will leave the crowns of the 

 roots about five inches below the surface 



'■'■Second Year. — Early in spring, as soon as the frost leaves the ground, dig 

 over the beds, taking care not to disturb the roots; rake the surface smooth; 

 and, during the summer, cultivate as before directed : but none of the shoots 

 should be cut for use. In the autumn, after the stalks have entirely withered, 

 cut down and burn as in the previous year ; stir the surface of the bed, and add 

 an inch of soil and manure ; which will bring the crowns six or seven inches 

 below ground, — a depth preferred by a majority of cultivators for established 

 plantations. 



''■Third Year. — Early in spring, stir the ground as directed for the two pre- 

 vious years. Some cultivators make a slight cutting during this season ; but 

 the future strength of the plants will be increased by allowing the crop to grow 



