278 MORE POT-POURRI 



tanee. First, thoroughly clean the land to be planted 

 with Asparagus of all such weeds as Docks, Spear- grass 

 or any other perennial weed, as if done at the first it is 

 done for good, leaving the land free to be taken posses- 

 sion of by the Asparagus roots, and doing away with 

 any after -necessity of forking about them. Second, 

 plant good, strong yearling plants not nearer together 

 than two feet, better still if the distance is increased to 

 three or four feet, marking the spot where each plant is 

 planted with a stout stake, so that their position can be 

 known. Third, the land must be kept free of weeds, 

 and a dressing of manure, or any form of liquid 

 manure, may be given occasionally during their season 

 of growth.' 



I may add that, even in inland sandy places, I am 

 certain a very fair success is to be obtained in growing 

 Asparagus by planting them in odds and ends of places, 

 even amongst shrubs, or anywhere in suitable corners. 

 The difficulty is to mark the place clearly enough in 

 winter, so that when a new hand comes in the roots may 

 not be dug up. The Asparagus plants that annually 

 bear a quantity of berries are by no means so large as 

 those that are unfruitful, and great numbers of garden- 

 ers now discard them at planting time where they are 

 known to exist. This, no doubt, is a step in the right 

 direction. I believe this excessive seeding of some 

 plants is the result of check in growth in young stages, 

 such as severe root -injury, overcrowding in the seed- 

 bed, and poverty of soil. It is well to add that in 

 all exposed places it is necessary to secure by staking 

 the summer's growth, as it is very important that 

 this should be preserved from being broken down, 

 and it should not be cut down till quite late in the 

 autumn. 



April 4th. — Returned home to-day. It is incredible 



