VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AXD CULTURE. 167 



green and the red-topped. The latter, with purplish green 

 shoots, is the one principally cultivated. There are some 

 sub-varieties, but these derive all their merit from superior 

 cultivation. R. Thompson states there is really but one 

 sort of asparagus. 



An analysis of asparagus by Thomas Richardson shows 

 the ashes to contain about T V<r of soda, and nearly -^ s of 

 chloride of sodium, or common salt. 



In other analyses the proportion of soda is considerably 

 reduced. Asparagus, like some other plants, has the 

 power of substituting the other alkalies, lime and potash, 

 in the place of soda. All the analyses exhibit large pro- 

 portions of chloride of sodium, or its elements, chlorine and 

 sodium, also of phosphoric acid. In asparagus, over three- 

 fifths of the inorganic elements of the plant are made up 

 of these constituents. This explains why salt and sea- 

 weed are found useful, and shows that the application of 

 bane manure, or superphosphate of lime, in connection 

 with animal manures, may be beneficial. 



Culture. Asparagus is propagated only by seed, one 

 ounce of which will produce a thousand plants. Sow 

 quite early in spring on a bed of fresh and deep sandy 

 loam, the richer the better as free as possible from all 

 shade of trees or shrubs. Draw the drills one foot apart, 

 and with a dibble make holes six inches distant, in which 

 drop two or three seeds. Let the seed be covered an inch 

 deep, and press the earth upon it. If unable to sow early, 

 shade must be given to the bed, for which purpose pine 

 boughs are. well suited. These should be removed at 

 night and on cloudy days, and entirely as soon as tho 

 plants are up. 



Care must be taken to keep the seed-bed light and free 

 from weeds, though this operation must be delayed until 

 the plants come up. If two plants appear in the same 

 place, the weaker must be removed. Transplanted, these 

 will make pretty good plants by fall. When the stems 



