143 



scarify the surface of the beds with a fork, and give 

 them a coating of night-soil, or pig dung, three or 

 four inches thick. But directions for doing this will 

 be found in the previous section on " Soil and Ma- 

 nures." Before the shoots make their appearance, 

 in the course of April, a slight layer of leaves, two 

 or three inches thick, may be beneficially added. 

 They may be kept from scattering before the wind 

 by a sprinkling over them of earth. These spring 

 dressings afford protection to the young shoots, 

 as well as m_ost desired nutriment ; for, as Mr. 

 Cramb, gardener, at Heywood House, Westbury, 

 justly observes, although by some it may be argued 

 that Asparagus is as hardy as any other marine 

 plant which inhabits our sea-coast, yet it must be 

 remembered that, when subjected to artificial cultiva- 

 tion, its primitive character is changed by the appli- 

 cation, of manure, which enlarges the vegetable tissue, 

 and consequently it is less able to resist the effects of 

 cold. {Card. Chron, \M?>, 589.) 



Renovating Old Beds. — The following excellent 

 mode is recommended by Mr. D. Robertson, of Wal- 

 kenshaw, N.B. : — 



Lift the surface clean off the crown of the plant, 

 and from between the rows ; take away from six to 

 nine inches of the old soil, or at least as much as can 

 be conveniently without injuring the plants. The 

 vacuities thus made, fill up with a prepared com- 



