126 



Asparagus when the period arrives. (Ganl. Chron. 

 1844, 667.) 



Mr. Craggs, gardener to Sir T. D. Aeland, Bart., 

 gives the folio whig directions for the selection and 

 preparation of the ground for the beds : — 



In selecting the ground for permanent beds, choose 

 a piece free from trees, and sloping to the south if pos- 

 sible, giving a preference to a strong sandy loam, of 

 the depth of three feet ; and if not naturally so deep, 

 making it that depth artificially. Take out a trench 

 two feet six inches wide, and three feet deep ; laying 

 one-third of the soil on the vacant ground where you 

 commence, and carrying the other to the place w^here 

 you intend to finish. Suppose the trench to be now 

 taken out, and the ground ready for trenching, lay 

 over the whole surface six inches in depth of dung 

 from old hotbeds, shaking it well with a fork. Turn 

 in the first spit and crumb with a full-length spade 

 into the bottom of the trench, mixing the dung and 

 soil thoroughly together with a fork ; then throw out 

 the other soil, until the second trench is the same 

 depth as the first ; and so proceed until you come to 

 the last trench, into which throw half the earth taken 

 back, and add dung equal to that for the first spit, 

 mixing it and the soil well together with a fork as 

 before. Now that the ground has been once trenched 

 over, and the bottom spit thoroughly mixed, tread 

 the whole surface, and again lay on it about six inches 



