FORCING 103 



two feet long. January loth, a heavy cutting. Janu- 

 ary 19th, cut about half as many shoots as on the loth. 

 January 30th, cut about as much as on the 19th, but 

 shoots growing smaller. February loth, small cut- 

 ting of weak shoots. Beyond this time there were no 

 shoots worth cutting. 



FORCING IN HOTBEDS AND FRAMES 



The forcing of asparagus in hotbeds does not differ 

 materially from that in the greenhouse, except in the 

 supply of heat. ' ' A most suitable place for forcing 

 asparagus," writes William Scott, in Garden and Forest , 

 " is a frame about four feet deep with one-fourth inch 

 hot-water pipe running around it. About two and 

 one-half feet of fresh stable litter should be put into 

 the frame and firmly packed, with an inch or two of 

 sand spread over it. This bed should be allowed to 

 stand until the heat of the manure has declined 

 to about 70°, and not below 65°, before the crowns 

 are placed on it. For this work advantage should 

 be taken of a day when the weather is mild, as 

 the crowns are easily damaged by frost. Large crowns 

 five or six years old are preferable to smaller ones for 

 forcing. They may be placed rather closely together 

 in the frame, but the distance apart must be regulated 

 by their size. The roots should be spread evenly over 

 the surface and covered with six inches of sand. Little 

 water will be required, as the steam from the manure 

 affords considerable moisture ; but if the bed should 

 become dry, it may be moistened with water of the 

 same temperature as the soil in the frame. A little 

 air may be admitted, when the day is bright and warm, 



