524 [ASSKMBLT 



Geo. E. Waring — On the subject of the washing down hill of 

 the soils, and modes of arresting this severe loss, remarked that 

 he has recently heard that trench or deep plowing, subsoiling 

 crosswise on side hills, had the effect of forming receptacles for 

 water, and prevented its running off and robbing the soil of its 

 fertility. 



John Lodge, of Jersey. — On the asparagus ; observed that it is 

 an aquatic plant and loves salt, which ought always to be slightly 

 sowed on the beds. A large amount of this universally loved 

 vegetable can be raised on a comparatively small surface of ground. 

 Long Island yields excellent asparagus. I trench the ground 

 two and an half feet deep, mixing in manure as I dig. This is 

 best when done in the spring. I have already been at work 

 making beds by breaking up frozen surface of the ground with 

 pickaxe, &c. Till your soil ever so deep and the asparagus roots 

 will go to the bottom. Deep spaded land is always warmer and 

 more moist. This is so in old England, where climate is cold, 

 and more moist than ours. I have seen meadows in England 

 good for thirty years with top dressing and care, which are always 

 necessary. 



Paul Stillman. — Wh-at manures do you use? 



Mr. Lodge — The animal and vegetable manures, top dressing 

 of salt, and the fertilizers. 



Mr. Meigs reminded the Club, relative to deep tillage of land, 

 that about one hundred years ago, in England, some persons 

 trenched their ground five feet deep, in order to give the roots 

 of their fruit trees room. That experience proved that the advan- 

 tages to the fruit crop was great, and that it lasted from fourteen 

 to twenty years before it became necessary to trench it over again. 



Mr. Lodge— I have found two and one half feet trenching very 

 good for trees. 



Prof. Mapes — At all events dig holes deep and wide to set your 

 trees in. 



Paul Stillman— How far do roots run? 



