152 



required has puslied forth, in which case, the variety 



in colour and size prevents thern from having so 



agreeable an appearance. Another knife, of the shape 



here represented, is 



often used for this 



purpose. In cutting, 



this knife is to be slipped along the stem, till it 



reaches the -bottom of the shoot, where the cut, as 



with a chisel, is to be made. The cutting should 



cease about the end of June. {Cal. Hort. Mem. ii. 



249.) 



In French Flanders, they only use the hand ia 

 gathering the shoots. They partially uncover tlie 

 plants, and break off the Asparagus shoots near tie 

 root. Many advantages are said by the Flemings/to 

 attend this method : the work-people do not run the 

 risk of cutting the heads of one or more shoots wh ch 

 are not yet come to the surface of the earth ; or 3f 

 wounding the buds of the roots, which are apt to 

 perish when damaged by the point of the knfe. 

 This way of gathering has been found also nDre 

 expeditious: besides, thus moving the earth round the 

 plant keeps it hghter, and lets in more easily to the 

 roots the dew, the rain, and the heat of the lun, 

 which tend to produce larger Asparagus, and n a 

 greater abundance. They break all the Aspangus 

 shoots in the following manner : when the shoot has 

 been thoroughly uncovered by the hand, thej lay 



