140 



declare it to be so. Nevertheless, to be successful, 

 it must not be done at this period in a neglectful 

 way. 



We still pursue the same course of practice as 

 that detailed in the Gard. Chron. 667, 1844; if we 

 have differed in any thing, it is in making a more 

 liberal use of salt. The Asparagus, after planting, 

 must be attended to with water daily ; if dry, for 

 one fortnight after planting ; after which it may 

 be left safely to itself. A good coating of half rotten 

 mulch, three inches thick, should be laid over the 

 soil : this will break the action of the water, and 

 thereby prevent puddling of the surface. Towards 

 the end of July the young plants will throw up a 

 second shoot of a much stronger character than the 

 original one : this should be soiled up a little, when 

 half a yard in height, to prevent wind waving. 



We may remark here, that Oulton Park Gardens 

 are celebrated for their produce of fine Asparagus, 

 and it is gratifying to know that another very suc- 

 cessful cultivator of this esculent, Mr. Craggs, gar- 

 dener to Sir T. D. Acland, Bart., adopts a similar 

 rule as his guide to planting time. He says : — 



Plant when the stems have grown about an inch 

 above the ground in the seed bed, choosing a dry day, 

 when the soil will work freely. After having marked 

 out the beds four feet in width, and having allowed 

 two feet for the alleys, strain a garden line on each 



