109 



brickbats, 1 8 or 24 inches deep, with a drain directly 

 from it to some outside ditch or other outfall. 



As, however, many kitchen gardens are of a very 

 clayey or adhesive character, it becomes a grave con- 

 sideration how to improve such for the cultivation of 

 Asparagus at the most moderate expense ; for remov- 

 ing the whole of the soil, and substituting a fresh 

 mass for the bed, is a process which cannot be at all 

 times carried outo Soil of this character should, as 

 before observed, be thoroughly drained, and this ope- 

 ration should take place in the autumn. In accom- 

 plishing this, the whole volume of the bed should be 

 thrown out right and left, and remain in two sharply 

 piled ridges until the early part of March, removing 

 away, however, a considerable portion of the inferior 

 or bottom soil or subsoil, in order to make way for 

 other material to improve it. These ridges, in the 

 course of the winter, will become somewhat mellowed, 

 and dt to blend with any loose sandy soil, providing 

 a thoroughly dry time be selected for the operation. 

 Materials for this purpose should have been collected 

 previously, and ready at hand when wanted. Ditch 

 scourings, which had been laid to mellow, would be 

 excellent, especially if turned once pre\dously, and 

 plenty of quicklime introduced. Loose sandy soils 

 of any kind, the lighter the better, should also be 

 used abundantly ; and even plenty of clean sand, a 

 good coat of coal ashes, and materials from the 



