CHAPTER III. 

 ASPARAGINOUS PLANTS. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Asparagus officinalis. 



A SPARAGrUS is a hardy, perennial, maritime plant. 

 /~\ It rises to the height of five feet and upwards, with 

 an erect, branching stem ; short, slender, nearly cylindrical 

 leaves ; and greenish, drooping flowers. The seeds, which 

 are produced in globular, scarlet berries, are black, some- 

 what triangular, and retain their germinative powers four 

 years. Twelve hundred and fifty weigh an ounce. 



Propagation. It is propagated from seed, sown either 

 in autumn, just before the closing-up of the ground, or in 

 spring, as soon as the soil is in good working condition. It 

 should not be sown thickly ; and the drills should be twelve 

 or fourteen inches apart, and an inch in depth. An ounce of 

 seed is sufficient for fifty or sixty feet of drill. 



When the plants are well up, thin them to three inches 

 asunder, and cultivate in the usual manner during the sum- 

 mer. 



Good plants of one year's growth are preferred by ex- 

 perienced growers for setting ; but some choose those of two 

 years, and they may be used when three years old. 



Soil and Planting. A deep, rich, mellow soil is best 

 adapted to the growth of Asparagus. 



Before planting out the roots, the ground should be thor- 

 oughly trenched two feet or more in depth. As the soil can 



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