FORCING 105 



common method of accomplishing this is to place 

 barrels over clumps of asparagus very early in the 

 spring and pile fermenting manure about them, the 

 warmth from the manure forcing the shoots into rapid 

 growth. When the forcing season is over and the 

 danger from frost is past the barrels are removed, and 

 the plants continue growth in the open air. Some- 

 times asparagus is forced by placing frames, covered 

 with sash, over the plants in the field, the rows of 

 asparagus being set rather close together. This is 

 considered a very profitable method by many market 

 gardeners. Another method of forcing asparagus in 

 the field is to dig ditches between the rows and fill 

 them with fermenting manure. The surface of the 

 bed may also be mulched with manure. The latter 

 plan is extensively pradticed by French market 

 gardeners. 



At the beginning of November the pathways 

 between the beds of asparagus are dug up about two 

 feet in depth and width. The soil coming from the 

 pathway is divided very carefully and put about eight 

 inches thick on the surface of the bed. The trench is 

 filled up with fresh stable manure, not litter, and 

 frames are placed on the bed. The manure should rise 

 as high as the top of the frames and the lights be 

 entirely covered with mats and litter to prevent the 

 heat accumulating in the frame from escaping. In 

 about two or three weeks the asparagus begins to show 

 itself on the surface of the bed. Many market gardeners 

 cover the whole of the bed inside the frames to a thick- 

 ness of three or four inches with manure, to force the 

 vegetation more quickly; but in this case the manure 



