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nure. He, therefore, in November of each year, as soon 

 as the ground is cleared of dead stalks and weeds, 

 causes all the loosest of the soil to be drawn off the 

 beds with a rake ; the bed is then well dressed with 

 very rotten manure, and left for the winter. In Feb- 

 ruary the alleys are dressed about from six to nine 

 inches thick, with half-rotten manure and leaves, from 

 partially decayed linings, which is trenched down very 

 deep, and the bed is then soiled, over the manure, 

 to the depth of four inches, with fresh soil from the 

 alleys. This completes the whole course of culture. 

 Finding the plants much injured by winds, in the 

 growing season, lines of cord are run up the principle 

 rows, to support the stems. {Gard. Chron. 1844, 

 667.) 



The foregoing detail of cultivation, as practised by 

 ourselves up to the year 1 844, has been continued up 

 to the present time with little deviation. Few obtain 

 a greater amount of success ; few have paid more at- 

 tention to the cultivation of this delicious vegetable 

 for many years. We may here be permitted, perhaps, 

 to repeat, that we lay the utmost stress on the due 

 cultivation of the alleys. Mr. Beaton calls his liquid 

 manuring and application of saline matters, *' Summer 

 cultivation ;" we beg to lay claim to this title also, in 

 common with Mr. Beaton, for our alley cultivation. 

 Whatever mode be adopted, we would beg to remind 

 Asparagus growers of the great vital powers possessed 



