1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



219 



want of the proper supplies, that often results in 

 the death of the victim in the very act of laying. 



In a word, let hens be cared for as an acquain- 

 tance with their habits and necessities will readily 

 indicate, and my humble testimony is cheerfully 

 added to the mass of evidence already furnished 

 by others, that have entered more largely into the 

 business, to prove that hens will pay their way in 

 fresh eggs, even through the winter. As for the 

 best breed, my experience has been in favor of 

 crossing the common variety with the Dorking, 

 Chittagong, or Bolton Grey ; at any rate, some 

 cross, rather than the native breed alone. Now, 

 neighbors, please give the hens a new trial, and 

 better chance than of old, w. E. B. 



Long Meadow, 1862. 



HOW TO KAISE ASPABAQUS, 



"A Subscriber" would like to know what sea- 

 son of the year is best for setting out asparagus 

 beds, and the best method of doing it. 



Ascntneyville, Vt., March, 1862. 



Remarks. — We reply with pleasure, because 

 we believe that not one-half of our readers enjoy 

 the luxury of eating asparagus plentifully, and 

 receiving its healthful influences as an article of 

 food. 



There is no mystery whatever in raising it. In 

 order to do it thoroughly, so that it will produce 

 fine crops for fifty years, select a piece of loamy 

 land, such as would bring a good crop of corn. It 

 should be drained land, or at least such as will 

 not retain standing water either on the surface or 

 in the subsoil. A piece thirty-five feet square 

 will produce asparagus enough for a common 

 sized family — say six or seven persons. 



Commence on one side and throw out the earth 

 two feet in width, and to the depth of eighteen 

 inches, — or twenty-four inches will be better, — 

 and then throw into the ti'ench as much coarse 

 barn manure as you can aff'ord. Then go back 

 on the bed and throw two feet more upon the 

 manure deposited in the first trench ; but in the 

 meantime mingle some older manure freely with 

 the soil as it is thrown over. In this way con- 

 tinue until the bed is finished. This will give a 

 depth of two feet of pulverized soil, mingled with 

 manure, with a bed of manure for its base ; one 

 upon which a plant of any reasonable habits ought 

 to flourish exceedingly. Before planting, there 

 ought to be twenty-five bushels of old, rich com- 

 post spread on the surface and raked in. 



KIND OF PLANTS, AND SETTING THEM. 



The plantation may be made in the spring as 

 soon as the soil becomes friable and pleasant to 

 work. Do not attempt to raise the plants from 

 the seed. Let those do that who make it a busi- 

 ness — the farmer cannot wait for so long a pro- 

 cess. Do not procure plants less than two years 

 old, and if they ai-e three, a crop will be realized 



so much the sooner. They should be fresh, and 

 such as have made a good, healthy growth. Such 

 plants may be plentifully found in Boston market, 

 in April and May, at a cost of from two to four 

 cents per root, or cluster, — for the stools have a 

 crown, which throws out a large number of long, 

 slender roots. 



The ground being thus prepared and laid level, 

 strain your line along the bed six inches from the 

 edge ; then, with a spade, cut out a small trench 

 or drill close to the line, about six inches deep, 

 making that side next the line nearly upright, and 

 when one trench is opened, plant that before you 

 open another, placing the plants upright, eight or 

 ten inches distance in the row, and let every row 

 be eighteen inches apart. 



The plants must not be placed flat in the bot- 

 tom of the trench, but nearly upright against the 

 back of it, and so that the crown of the plants 

 may also stand upright, and two or three inches 

 below the surface of the ground, spreading their 

 roots somewhat regularly against the back of the 

 trench, and at the same time drawing a little earth 

 up against them with the hand as you place them, 

 just to fix the plants in their due position until 

 the row is planted ; when one row is thus placed, 

 with a rake or hoe draw the earth into the trench 

 over the plants, and then proceed to open another 

 drill or trench, as before directed ; and fill and 

 cover it in the same manner, and so on till the 

 whole is planted ; then let the surface of the beds 

 be raked smooth and clear from stones. 



Some gardeners, with a view to have extra 

 large heads, place their plants sixteen inches apart 

 in the rows, instead of twelve, and by planting 

 them in the quincunx manner, that is, by com- 

 mencing the second row eight inches from the end 

 of the first ; the third opposite the first ; and the 

 fourth even with the second, the plants will form 

 rhomboidal squares, instead of rectangular ones, 

 and every plant will thus have room to expand its 

 roots and leaves luxuriantly. 



WINTER DRESSING OF ASPARAGUS BEDS. 



About the beginning of November, if the stalks 

 of the asparagus turn yellow, which is a sign of 

 their having finished their growth for the season, 

 cut them down close to the earth, carry them off" 

 the ground, and clear the beds from weeds. 



Asparagus beds must have an annual dressing 

 of good manure ; let it be laid equally over the 

 beds, two or three inches thick, after which dig 

 in the dung quite down to the crowns of the plants, 

 by which means the roots will be greatly benefit- 

 ed ; as the winter rains will wash the manure 

 down amongst them. The beds will be greatly 

 benefited if covered to the depth of several inches 

 with leaves, seaweed, or long litter from the liv- 

 ery stables. 



