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If salt in a crystalline form is used, 2 lbs. per 

 square yard may be put on thrice a year — in the mid- 

 dle of January, April, and in July, about a month 

 after cutting has ceased. Let no one think this too 

 much, for we have seen quite as much used for years 

 with great advantage. This is not our experience 

 alone, for we can add this testimony from a practical 

 gardener in the east of England. 



Long before any heads make their appearance, he 

 forks in some manure from an old cucumber-bed, 

 levels the surface, and completely covers the beds with 

 fine salt, at least a quarter of an inch in thickness. 

 If no rain falls for some time, he endeavours to wash 

 it in by copious waterings, and even if there is rain 

 in addition, as the salt is some time before it entirely 

 disappears ; the watering and the sun together often 

 cause it to form a crust, which it takes some weeks to 

 dissolve, and upon tasting the surface of the soil it 

 may for weeks after be found very perceptibly salt. 

 But what is the effect? Every weed is entirely de- 

 stroyed, and the beds are as clean as a well-trodden 

 turnpike-road. But the Asparagus ! what becomes of 

 that! that thrives, and improves in a remarkable 

 manner. The writer is accustomed to see bundles 

 of very fine heads from Ely and Wisbeach, which 

 places are noted for excelhng in the growth of this 

 vegetable ; but, he adds, that he never saw finer than 

 his own, and all this alteration was caused in a few 



