36 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OP PLANTS 



ASP 



varieties in Asparagus, as well as in other 

 vegetables, and such selections as Conover's 

 Colossal, and the Palmetto, are undoubted 

 improvements on the original sort. Its value 

 and importance as a Vegetable can hardly be 

 over-estimated, it is extensively grown and 

 when properly managed produces a lucrative 

 crop. 



The preparation of the Asparagus bed 

 should be made with more care than for most 

 vegetables, from the fact that it is a perma- 

 nent crop, which ought to yield as well at the 

 end of twenty-five as of five years, if the 

 soil has been well prepared. The Asparagus 

 bed, to start with, should be on ground thor- 

 oughly drained, either naturally or artificially, 

 and if choice can be had, on a rather light, 

 sandy loam. This should be trenched and 

 mixed with sufficient manure to form a coat- 

 ing at least six inches thick over the bed. 

 This manure should be worked into the soil 

 by trenching to the depth of two feet, as the 

 roots of the plant will reach quite that depth 

 in a few years. In setting, the crowns of the 

 plants should be placed at least three inches 

 below the surface. Asparagus may be planted 

 either in the spring or the fall. If in the 

 spring, it should be done as early as the 

 ground is dry enough to work ; and if in the 

 fall, just as soon as the plants can be had, 

 which is usually in the early part of October. 

 We prefer fall planting on light, well-drained 

 soils, for the reason that, if it is done then, 

 young roots are formed which are ready to 

 grow on the approach of spring ; but if the 

 planting is done in March, April, or May, this 

 formation of new roots has to take place then, 

 and causes a corresponding delay in growth. 

 Plants are sold by market gardeners and seeds- 

 men ; and as it will save a year or two to pur- 

 chase them, it is not worth while to raise 

 them from seed in a private garden. 



The edible portion is the undeveloped stems, 

 which, if cut away as soon as they appear, are 

 followed by others, which start from the 

 crown of the plant. The cutting, if continued 

 too long, would finally exhaust the root; 

 hence it is customary to stop cutting as soon 

 as early peas become plenty, and allow the 

 remaining shoots to grow during the rest of 

 the season, .and thus accumulate sufficient 

 strength in the plant to allow it to produce 

 another crop of shoots the next season. 



The surface of the Asparagus bed should 

 have a top dressing of three or four inches of 

 rough stable manure eveiy fall (November), 

 which should be lightly forked into the bed 

 in the spring. The variety mostly grown is 

 the Colossal, although the new French variety, 

 known as the Palmetto, is likely to supersede 

 it, its merit being that the shoots grow more 

 uniformly large than the Colossal. 



In some localities Asparagus is attacked by 

 an insect called the Asparagus Beetle. The 

 best method of getting rid of this pest, that 

 we have found, is to coop up a hen, and let 

 the chickens eat the insects and their eggs. 



Asparagus can also be forced to advantage 

 if brought into market before March. By 

 that time Florida begins to supply our mar- 

 kets in quantity, and the price depreciates. 

 Strong, healthy young plants, three to four 

 years old, are best suited for this purpose, 

 and should be sown yearly and grown on in 

 succession, on the surface plan ; that is, not 



ASP 



planted deep in the ground as for permanent 

 beds. The general management for forcing is 

 similar to that required for Rhubarb. See 

 article on " Forcing Vegetables." 



Aspa'ragus, Bath or Prussian, consists of the 

 spikes when about eight inches long, of 

 Ornithogalum Pyrenaicum which grows abund- 

 antly enough in hedges and pastures in that 

 locality (Bath, England), to be worth gather- 

 ing for sale. 



Aspa'ragus of the Cossacks. Typha latifolia. 



Aspa'sia. From aspazomai, I embrace ; the 

 column embraced by the labellum. Nat. Ord. 

 Orchidacece. 



A small genus of epiphytal Orchids from 

 Central and South America. One of the more 

 important species, A. epidendroidcs, has yellow 

 and brown sepals, the petals light purple, the 

 lip white, with purple in the centre. The 

 species should be grown in baskets, or on 

 blocks of wood or cork, with plenty of moss. 

 They do not require a high temperature, but 

 need plenty of air. Increased by division. 

 Introduced in 1833. 



A'spen. See Populus tremula. 



A'spera. Bough, with hairs or points. 



Aspe'rula. The diminutive of a#per, rough ; in 

 reference to the rough leaves. Nat. Ord. 

 Rubiacece. 



Pretty, dwarf, hardy plants, chiefly natives 

 of the European Continent, well adapted for 

 shaded situations among trees. A. odorata, 

 the common Woodruff, is esteemed for its 

 delightful scent. This pretty little plant, 

 when wilted, has the odor of new-mown hay, 

 and when kept among clothes, it not only 

 imparts an agreeable perfume to them, but 

 preserves them from insects. 



Asphalt. Artificial Asphalt is used very gen- 

 erally for foot-paths in gardens, etc. One of 

 the best methods is the following : Lime 

 rubbish, two parts ; coal ashes, one part, (both 

 must be very dry and sifted very fine) ; mix 

 them and leave a hole in the middle of the 

 heap, wherein pour boiling hot coal-tar; mix 

 well together. When as stiff as mortar, lay it 

 down three inches thick, on a dry and previ- 

 ously well-leveled surface, sprinkle with dry 

 sifted sand and roll thoroughly with a heavy 

 roller. Only just enough tar to last about ten 

 minutes must be taken from the furnace at 

 one time, as, if it be not boiling, the walks 

 will become soft under the action of very hot 

 sun. This may be repeated every three years. 

 It is imperative that the surface, lime, coal 

 ashes, and sand, be perfectly dry, and that 

 the days selected for the operation be very 

 fine, the hotter the better. 



Aspho'delus. Asphodel. From a, privative, 

 and sphallo, to supplant ; the stately flowers 

 not easily surpassed. Nat. Ord. LiliacecB. 



Showy plants suitable for the open border, 

 with white or yellow flowers. They may be 

 grown in any soil, and are readily increased 

 by separation of the roots. Most varieties are 

 from the south of Europe, have long been in 

 cultivation in our gardens, and are perfectly 

 hardy. 



Aspi'dieee. A section of polypodineous Ferns, 

 in which the sori are punctiform or dot-like, 

 find covered either by reniform or peltate 

 indusia. 



