346 THE FORCING GARDEN. [FEB. 



advancing, and will soon be ready for use. The 

 process is the same in every respect, as that stated 

 last month, except that the bed need not be quite 



so strong. 



With respect to the asparagus now advancing, 

 care must be taken to keep the bed as clear of steam 

 as possible ; and air must be freely admitted, in 

 order to give the buds flavour. A moderate quan- 

 tity of water may be given once in three or four 

 days, if the heat be not violent ; and if otherwise, 

 oftener. But if the dung was properly fermented, 

 and the bed carefully turfed, according to the di- 

 rections given, the heat should be mild, and little 

 steam should appear by the time the buds have come 

 up. If the weather be severe, cover at night ac- 

 cordingly ; but uncover betimes in the morning, 

 that the buds be not drawn up weak and ill co- 

 loured. 



If the heat has decreased much, on account of 

 severe weather, and if it be thought not sufficient 

 to carry the plants through, or to spring all the buds, 

 one, or both sides of the bed should be lined ; lining 

 the front first, and if that does not throw in heat 

 enough, then the back, at an interval of eight or ten 

 days. For this purpose, the dung must be ferment- 

 ed, as at first. The old dung must be cut away, 

 perpendicularly by the frame ; and the new lining 

 must be built about two feet broad, and to the 

 height of six inches above its bottom ; beating or 

 treading it well, and making it up to the same 

 height in a few days again, as it will fall consider- 

 ably in heating. When the lining has done settling, 



