238 transactions of the american institute. 



Cultivation of Asparagus. 



Mr. Pardee. — We must all remember that the asparagus is a marine 

 plant, and, to raise it to perfection, salt must be applied to the bed yearly. 

 I have been very successful in raising this plant. It was my constant 

 habit to empty the old brine from the beef and pork barrels upon the beds, 

 and always succeeded in raising asparagus of a superior quality. In 

 answer to the question how to prepare asparagus beds, I will say: First, 

 underdrain the soil. If that cannot be done in the regular way with tiles, 

 dig the bed four or five feet deep, and fill a foot or two of the bottom with 

 rubble stone, and above that old litter of any sort, including chips, rotten 

 wood, sods, etc., then soil well, mixed with compost manure, thoroughly 

 worked, and in this set the roots six inches down, and by and by level off 

 the bed. Keep it well worked and rich. A bed thus prepared and kept will 

 last for years. 



Chiccory — Its Use and Growth. 



Mr. Solon Robinson presented several roots of chiccory grown upon his 

 farm in Westchester county, and also specimens of the dried roots prepared 

 for use in a domestic way, in which, and his statement relating to it, the 

 members appeared to take a deep interest. The roots are about half the 

 usual size of parsneps, and, in Mr. Robinson's opinion, half as many bushels 

 per acre may be counted on as a crop. Mr. Robinson said that he did not 

 present these specimens, and call up this subject again, to induce any one 

 to cultivate or use chiccory, but simply to show how easily it can be grown 

 by any farmer that desires to do so. He procured the seed at Thorburn's, in 

 John street, being particular to inquire for the kind that is grown for roots, 

 and not as a forage plant, as one kind, called succory, is, in England. It 

 was sown upon corn-stubble land, moderately rich, alongside of carrots, in 

 May or first of June, and treated in the same weiy; and this prepared 

 article was made of roots dug a few days since, washed and cut into thin 

 slices, and dried upon a wire screen in one day over the stove. It is now 

 to be roasted and used just like coffee, mixed with it or rye, or in a pure 

 state. As to its use being deleterious, he had no idea that it was as much so 

 as coffee or tea. If used too freely it is said to be diuretic, and that it 

 affects the nervous system. So do tea and coffee. If mixed half and half 

 with coffee, it would be hard to detect it in the article prepared for the table. 

 Mixed with rye the beverage certainly has a strong likeness to coffee in 

 looks, odor and flavor. As farmers generally drink coffee — as they must 

 or will have some warm beverage with their meals — why not use chiccory, 

 and why not grow it in their gardens ? He thought the Club might do a 

 great favor to the country by recommending it. If it is deleterious, the 

 people of England, France, Belgium and Germany would have discovered 

 it before this, for it is extensively grown and used there; and, indeed, it is 

 much more extensively used here than people are aware of, or else why 

 such quantities imported? And if used, why should it be imported, when 

 we can grow it as easily as any other root crop, and prepare it for use in 

 any way that roots, herbs or fruits are dried. 



Mr. R. G, Pardee read the following extract from the American Encyclo- 

 paedia about this plant: 



