104 



are preferable to plants ; but in cases where it is de- 

 sirable to cut from the beds in the second season after 

 they are formed, strong two-year-old plants will be 

 more serviceable. {Gard. Chron. 1843, 73.) 



Sowing, — As it is of great importance to have good 

 seed, about the middle of May some of the finest 

 heads should be selected and left for its production ; 

 and in autumn, when their seeds are ripe, wash these 

 out of the berries, drying them as quickly as possible, 

 and preserving them in a dry place until the following 

 spring. The seed may be sow^n from the middle of 

 February to the beginning of April ; the most usual 

 and best time is in the first half of March. The best 

 mode is to insert the seeds by the dibble, nine inches 

 apart, and an inch below the surface, two seeds to be 

 put in each hole, or they may be sown in drills made 

 the same distance asunder. 



This will provide against the occurrence of failure, 

 for if all vegetate, as the plants ought not to be nearer 

 to each other than 18 inches, every alternate seedling 

 may be removed. Sowing by the dibble or drill is 

 far preferable to broadcast, admitting of cleaner hus- 

 bandry and avoiding root entanglement, which is in- 

 convenient whenever transplanting is required. If 

 the seed be good, careful thinning will be required 

 soon after the seedlings are well above ground, for a 

 single grain often produces two or three Asparagus 

 plants, bound together, from which the stronger shoot 



