116 



summer, while they are in active growth, is a mere 

 waste of time and materials ; not that winter-dressing 

 is lost on the plants altogether, although the best 

 part of it is ; but that if the same amount were given 

 in summer in a liquid form, when the plants could at 

 once appropriate it, the benefit would be out of com- 

 parison in favour of summer manuring, not only to 

 Asparagus, but also to sea-kale and rhubarb. {Gard. 

 Chron. 1843, 387.) 



In the few cases in which salt has been said to be 

 injurious, the beds have either been in bad condition 

 as regards drainage, or it has been applied to beds 

 newly formed, and therefore to plants with wounded 

 roots, for such recently planted Asparagus must be 

 considered to be, however carefully the plants may 

 have been taken up. The same injurious effect 

 might also be produced by the salt coming in contact 

 with wounded portions of the plant, whether of the 

 roots, in consequence of cutting the .sides of the beds 

 when throwing up the soil from the alleys, or of the 

 crown, in cutting the shoots. A tree will be killed by 

 the application of a quantity of salt to a cut root, 

 although a much larger quantity might be given with 

 impunity when the roots are in a sound state. Along 

 with the salt some have used night-soil ; liquid ma- 

 nure fixed and prepared with sulphuric acid ; Pot- 

 ter's liquid guano, at the rate of half a pound per 

 square yard, following the application by plenty of 



