280 Catalogue of Works on Gardening, SjC 



The produce of two rows, treated in this mariner, Mr. Niven has found "fully 

 equal in quantity to any one bed with three rows on it, besides being much 

 superior in quality." 



The plants appear growing out of elevated ridges ; and in May, when the 

 short grass mowing begins, a portion of grass is shaken in between the 

 rows so as to fill the hollow space quite up to the necks of the plants. This 

 supplies nourishment and retains moisture, while the slight degree of ferment- 

 ation which takes place, heats the soil and stimulates the roots. When the 

 shoots come up, they are thinned, by cutting away the weakest, " so that by 

 the end of the first season, not more than two, or at least three, shoots are left 

 to grow to maturity on each plant. Proper attention to the thinning of 

 asparagus, in the first instance, immediately after planting, during the first and 

 second years, and afterwards also in cutting for use, is of essential importance 

 towards the future welfare of the plant." Mr. Niven's object is to leave a 

 supply of strong shoots regularly over the bed, in order that the buds formed 

 at the base of these shoots may be strong and fit to throw up vigorous heads 

 next year. 



We may here observe that the practice of the market-gardeners in the 

 neighbourhood of London is, to cut over every shoot, whether small or large, 

 up to a certain day in June ; after which the beds are left untouched till the 

 time for winter dressing. This, it would appear, is found to he the most pro- 

 fitable mode for a market-gardener, because he sorts his heads into three sizes, 

 and finds a demand for each ; whereas the private gentleman's gardener can 

 send no head to table that is not large and finely grown. 



But to return to Mr. Niven's practice. In November, when the tops having 

 become yellow are cut over, the crown of the ridge is reduced a little with the 

 hand, and about 4 in. of sea or " rabbit " sand is laid along over the line of 

 plants, while rotten dung, leaves, and sea sand are slightly stirred into the soil 

 between the ridges. But it is needless to go farther into routine culture. 

 Suffice it to say, that Mr. Niven has fully established the superior advantages 

 of surface culture, which, had the subject been duly reflected on, might have 

 been foreseen. The same principle is now being very generally applied to the 

 culture of every description of useful plant, and more especially to the culture 

 of fruit trees. In short, the subsoil is beginning to be considered as chiefly 

 useful as a reservoir of water, and the surface soil as a store-house of food. 



We are glad to find Mr. Niven disapproving of cutting the heads of asparagus 

 a few inches below the surface ; " for what useful purpose this is done," he 

 says, "we are at a loss to conceive, inasmuch as the white or blanched part of 

 the grass is so usually hard and stringy as to be scarcely fit for use ; whereas, 

 by allowing the heads to grow the proper length above the surface, say about 

 8 in. or so, they will not only still be compact, but the whole of the grass will 

 be tender and eatable." (p. 27.) 



We conclude by strongly recommending this tract, which is sold at the low 

 price of a shilling, to all who are anxious to grow asparagus of superior quality. 

 Mr. Niven is now established in Ireland as a landscape-gardener; and we 

 cannot help suggesting to the proprietors of Ireland the idea of employing him, 

 not only as a landscape-gardener, but as general inspector of their gardens, 

 several times a year, with a view to the improvement of their culture and 

 keeping. There are many points of culture and management which the head 

 gardener only requires to have pointed out and explained to him ; such, for 

 example, as the general application of the principle of surface culture, and the 

 consequent necessity of mulching in the dry season, and of thatching the vine 

 borders of forcing-houses in the winter season. In how man}' cases are not 

 the fruit trees in kitchen-gardens barren from being too deeply planted, or 

 from having the ground too deeply dug about their roots. There are yet hun- 

 dreds of gardeners of the old school, both in Britain and Ireland, who do not 

 understand the use of leaves, and who persist in the practice of cutting down 

 all plants the moment they have done flowering. Such an inspector as Mr. 

 Niven, at once scientific, of an engaging address, and kind-hearted, might do 



