166 



men the advantages attending it. Parallel beds may 

 be forced in the same way, so that the intermediate 

 linings be not too much trodden on, as this always 

 checks their working kindly. Beds so treated will 

 continue productive for many years. {Gard. Mag. 

 iv. 360.) 



It may here be remarked, that Mr. Spiers, as we 

 well remember, was amongst the very first to lead the 

 way in this mode of forcing. His principles are un- 

 doubtedly right ; he, however, errs, we conceive, in 

 point of the direction of the beds. We cannot but 

 think, that in Asparagus cultivation, as also in the 

 cultivation of most crops, that rows north and south 

 are at all times preferable to those east and west. In 

 thus judging we assume two points, viz., that plants 

 in that direction enjoy more light, and that the aggre- 

 gate amount of light, during the growing season, in 

 Britain is certainly no more than sufficient. 



Mr. Spiers used, we think, glass frames, but there 

 is not the least need of them. We have grown for 

 the last twelve years first-rate Asparagus in such pits 

 with a wooden span roof, which we shall here de- 

 scribe. 



Our brick pits are pigeon-holed ; the pits are forty- 

 two inches in width, and the alleys about twenty-six 

 inches. The beds receive only two rows of Aspara- 

 gus, which are planted about nine inches from the 

 exterior walls, thus leaving a space of about twenty- 



