Cultivation of Asparagus. 105 



This way of forcing is much better than the old method ; 

 for, where there is so much dung used for forcing in seasons 

 when we have either much rain or snow, the plants are liable 

 to become tainted with the rank effluvia, and, in consequence, 

 the quality of the stalks is deteriorated : this must be care- 

 fully guarded against. 



A succession being requisite, and as this species of rhubarb 

 vegetates nearly four weeks earlier than any of the other sorts, 

 nothing more is required than to have a few beds of the same 

 length and breadth as the above, for forcing, with 15-inch 

 alleys between. Let them be prepared in the same manner, 

 covering the whole of the beds, about 1 ft. higher than the pots, 

 with dry littery straw, leaving the alleys clear. The beds 

 should remain covered in this way till July : this will preserve 

 that beautiful colour and flavour so much admired when made 

 into tarts ; for, if exposed to the atmosphere, those qualities 

 are lost. 



- This rhubarb makes an excellent preserve, when cut into 

 small pieces about 1^ in. long, and preserved in clarified 

 sugar. 



As beds of rhubarb and sea-kale should be permanent, a 

 bed of each sort may be planted together, as three linings will 

 work both beds, and a dish of each may be got alternately. I 

 recommend the sides of the beds to be built up with bricks, 

 laid flatwise, and pigeon-holed as thickly as possible, so as to 

 admit the heat freely from the linings. I find rhubarb and 

 sea-kale grow well in three parts light sandy loam, and one 

 fourth rotten dung. If it be found necessary to empty the 

 trenches of the dung, they had better be filled with littery 

 dung, so as not to expose the roots too much to the sun and 

 air during summer. I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 



Mr. Lee's Nursery, Hammersmith, David Spiers. 



March 25. IS2S. 



Art. XVI. Some Particulars relative to the Cultivation of 

 Asparagus. By Mr. T. A. Meyer, of Berlin, now in the 

 Clapton Nursery. 



Sir, 

 My experience in the cultivation of this highly esteemed 

 vegetable, was acquired in a country where much of it is grown, 

 and where it is obtained in great perfection. My situation 

 was in the west of Germany, sixty leagues east of the capital of 

 France. The soil of the garden was what is called in this 



