154 



dom forward enough to ripen their seeds perfectly. 

 In choosing the shoots for this purpose, those only 

 must be marked which are the finest, roundest, and 

 have the closest heads ; those having quick opening 

 heads, or are small or flat, are never to be left. More 

 are to be selected than would be necessary if each 

 stem would assuredly be fruitful ; but as some of 

 them only bear male or unproductive blossoms, that 

 contingency must be allowed for. Each chosen shoot 

 must be fastened to a stake which, by keeping it in 

 its natural position, enables the seed to ripen more 

 perfectly. 



Foreign Modes of Culture. — In some parts of 

 France, Flanders, and Spain, Asparagus is commonly 

 grown of a quality and size attained only in rare in- 

 stances in England. We shall append, therefore, 

 some particulars of the cultivation adopted in those 

 countries, especially recommending for as close imita- 

 tion as possible the Spanish mode, for it has been 

 partially pursued in this country and with very great 

 success. 



At the mouth of the Urumea in Spain, is a narrow 

 slip of land, about three feet above high water mark, 

 consisting of alluvial soil and the wearing away of 

 sandstone hills, at whose feet it is placed. This is 

 the Asparagus ground of St. Sebastian. Beds are 

 formed five feet wide, without any previous prepara- 

 tion, except digging and raking. In March the seed 



