130 



requires shelter whilst in a state of rest, that he re- 

 commends it to be especially exposed to the cold. He 

 says that — 



The best treatment is to cut down the tops to nine 

 or twelve inches above the ground, and to fork over 

 the beds in November between the rows, and to lay 

 the crowns bare, for the frost to act upon, by turning 

 the soil into the walks, there to remain during winter. 

 As soon as the frost breaks up, return the soil out of 

 the walks to the beds, which will be good and rich ; 

 then fill up the walks only with good manure, and 

 dig it into them to be in readiness for another year, 

 and it will cause the outside rows to push the shoots 

 a week or two before the centre of the bed, and it 

 makes a succession. The frost will not injure the 

 roots of either Asparagus or Rhubarb ; it invigorates 

 and makes them grow stronger. Mr. Coulam says 

 that the stalks of his Asparagus, thus treated, are 

 from 7 to 9 feet in height — more like young Larch 

 Firs than Asparagus. In returning the soil from the 

 walks in the spring, add salt mixed up with the fine 

 pulverized soil before returning it to the beds. 

 {Gard. Chron. 1845, 836.) 



We happen to know, by experience, that Asparagus 

 may be cultivated in a first-rate way by the single 

 row system, as detailed by Mr. Beaton. This was a 

 favourite hobby with ourselves for a few years. We, 

 however, find that double rows, under a good system 



