32 THE CANADLV:!^ HOKTICULTtJRlST. 



boil tliem whole until they become soft, spread them upon some toasted 

 bread, and pour melted butter over the whole. Others again treat 

 them as greens, dressing them witJi vinegar. 



This little cut, which was obtained 

 from Mr. Vick, of Rochester, shews the 

 root with tlie buds growing up from it, 

 and will give to many who are not 

 familiar with the plant a good idea of 

 its appearance. These roots can be 

 purchased of nurserymen and market 

 gardeners at very moderate cost, and planted out in a bed in the garden 

 M^here they will continue for many years. The bed should be prepared 

 by deep spading, and be well enriched and thoroughly pulverized. 

 Trenches may be cut across the bed about six inches deep, and eighteen 

 inches apart, and tlie plants set in the trenches nine inches from each 

 other, and covered with two or three inches of soil. The best time for 

 setting them out is in tlie Spring, from, say the middle of April to the 

 middle of May. 



Salt is a special manure which may be applied to our Asparagus 

 beds with great benefit in this inland region. It should be spread over 

 the surface of the ground only in the Spring, before the buds appear, 

 at the rate of three pounds of salt to the square yard. Asparagus is a 

 marine plant, hence an application of salt in sufficient quantity to 

 destroy weeds, only supplies that, which in our inland country, is 

 needed for the health and vigor of the plant. 



A word about cutting the buds for use. In most of our works on 

 gardening Ave are directed to cut them two or three inches below the 

 surface, exercising great care. not to cut off, in the operation, the buds 

 which are coming up, but yet unseen. But why we should be at so 

 much pains, and run so much risk of injuring the buds that lie liid 

 under ground, merely for the sake of securing a portion of the stalk, 

 which though it looks white and tender, is really tough and useless, is 

 not easily understood. "We prefer to cut them off just at the surface, 

 thereby securing all that is eatable, and avoiding all risk of injuring 

 the biuls below. A young bed should not be cut over but a few times, 

 after it has been well established the cutting may be continued for 

 several weeks. 



