758 Transactions of the American Institute. • 



under a shed, and that from the horses is spread over the entire 

 mass. This is done every day. Once in three or four days I spread 

 over the heap a small quantity of lime, putting about a cask during 

 tlie winter, and, on alternate days, a coat of plaster. My reason for 

 my process is, the horse-manure promotes fermentation, as does also 

 the lime ; the plaster retains the gases. This has been my practice 

 for a few years, and my manure is as ripe by the 1st of May as it 

 formerly was in September. I am no chemist, but have been led to 

 this process by experiment." 



Asparagus. 



Mr. A. Perrine, Englishtown, jN^. J., asks information in relation 

 to the culture of asparagus as a field crop ; what soil is the best ; also 

 the best fertilizer, how deep and how far apart should the roots be 

 planted ? 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — Deep sandy loam, well-rotted barn-yard manure, 

 or, in the absence of that, something that comes as near to it as pos- 

 sible. Plant either in spring or fall, in hills three by three, or in 

 rows four feet apart, and hills two feet distant, using Conover's 

 colossal, and covering the crowns only four or five inches deep. I 

 Speak of the last point, because if he intends to send to market he will 

 get it eight or ten days sooner than if he follows the advice of some, 

 and covers afoot or more. Getting into market early with asparagus 

 is apt to make a great diiference in the price, and consequently in 

 the profits. 



Mr. D. B. Bruen. — I have the best asparagus bed in this or any 

 other country ; there can be no doubt about it ; I put it down with 

 my own hands, twelve inches apart, using well-rotted cow-manure. 

 I never allow the sun to shine on their roots. I apply a bushel or 

 so of salt each year, and, w^hen the sprouts die in autumn, cut them 

 off and cover the surface with four inches of mulch. 



Mr. Moultou. — How long will a bed last when once fairly put 

 down ? 



Prof. J. A. Nash. — On the Mount Pleasant property, in Amherst, 

 Mass., there was an asparagus bed which I know to have been in full 

 bearing and excellent for thirty years at least. But a very successful 

 grower, near London, told me ho found it best to renew every twenty 

 years. 



Mr. Simeon Baldwin. — And on the homestead where I was born 

 there was one at least fifty years old. 



