On the Cultivation of Asparagus. 135 



appearance, together with its tenderness and flavor, recommend it 

 to the notice of every market gardener, who is desirous of any em- 

 ulation for his productions, and to every gentleman and amateur, 

 who is ambitious of supplying his table with the most excellent 

 kind. 



There has been considerable written upon the culture of as- 

 paragus, and there are various opinions respecting the best meth- 

 ods of cultivation. But leaving the reader to choose which system 

 he pleases, I proceed to detail the method I have adopted, and 

 which I have found to be completely successful. It is difficult to 

 persuade those who have, for years, continued to grow any kind of 

 plants, to tolerable perfection, to adopt new modes, with the hope 

 of improving upon the long-trodden path ; but the desire, which is 

 increasing among gardeners, to be theorists, as well as experiment- 

 alists, will, sooner or later, dispel this idea. 



In the month of May, select a spot of ground sufficiently large 

 to plant the number of roots intended ; if the plantation is to be 

 large, and intended for supplying the market, the ground should be 

 ploughed to a good depth ; if for a common kitchen garden, it 

 should be trenched to the depth of sixteen or twenty inches. Make 

 the surface of the bed level, after this operation is performed. 

 Then proceed to mark out places to dig the trenches for the roots ; 

 they should be two and a half feet apart ; stretch a line the whole 

 length of the bed, and with a small pointed stick make a drill ; draw 

 the next two and a half from this, and so on, to the whole width. 

 Then proceed to throw out the soil six inches each side of the drill, 

 and ten deep, laying it up in ridges between each trench. After 

 this is done, throw in about four inches of manure ; level the same, 

 and add about two inches of soil on the surface, scraped from the 

 sides of the trenches ; level this also, and all is ready for planting. 



There are different opinions respecting the age at which roots 

 should be planted. Some gardeners prefer one year old roots, 

 some two, and some even three ; when it is desired to have beds 

 ready for cutting as soon as possible, three year old roots are set 

 out ; but I am doubtful whether much, if any thing, is gained by 

 this. For my own planting, I always prefer those two years of age, 

 and rather than set out older ones, I would have those of only one 

 year ; the produce may not be so great at first, but in a few years 

 it is much larger. Select such only as have good fibi'es, and a fine 

 bold crown, throwing out all weak roots. In setting out, place 

 them six inches apart, and lay out the fibres in regular order, and 

 not jumble them together, as is too often done, to the great injury 

 of the plants. Much of their future success, I attribute to the 

 care given in setting out. When all are planted, cover them with 

 about an inch of soil, and the work is all finished. The plants, 

 throughout the summer, must be kept clear of weeds, and occasion- 

 ally hoed ; and by these two operations, and the summer rains, the 



