470 THE PARKS AND GAEDBNS OF PAEIS. [Chap. XXVII. 



the spreading-oTit of the roots in a perfectly safe manner. The 

 planting-season at Argenteuil lasts from the first week in March 

 to about the 20th of April. The hest Asparagus in France is 

 grown here, and by one system mainly. The plants, one-year 

 seedlings (never older), are planted in shallow trenches 7 in. or 

 8 in. deep, the plants a little more than one yard apart, and the 



lines 4 ft. apart ; no manure is given 



iimhes jffsgj. at planting; no trenching, or any 



--—-j^^^m. preparation of the ground (beyond 



'« ^^fi^^^i digging the shallow trench) takes 



place In subsequent years a little 



N^''^^^SKS^Ki^SEi9i£i^^^'> manure is given over the roots in 



autumn : the soil, thrown out of the 



This Figure shows the depth of the s-ucces- _ , .^ _ 



sive annual earthings given to the treuches aud lormmg a ridge between 

 ^gttZTThe ^'Z^£:'J:T1 tbem, is planted with a light crop 



highest points of the ground are those in Spring. lu all SubseqUeut VCarS 

 over the crowns of the roots. ^ r^. , ^ ^ "^ 



the earth is placed over the crowns 

 in spring and removed in autumn. The culture is for the 

 most part conducted by peasants on their own ground. Under 

 this system good results are obtained in various soils, the only 

 difference being that on cold clay soils the planting is not quite 

 so deep. Every winter the growers notice the state of the young 

 roots, and any spot in which one has perished they mark with a 

 stick, to replace the plant the following March. Early every 

 spring they pile up a little heap of fine earth over each crown. 

 When the plantation arrives at its third year they increase the 

 size of the little mound, or, in other words, a heap of finely-pul- 



Plantiifg Asparagus ; Tri'nches at Planting-time and after a Season's growth. 



verized earth is placed over the stool, from which some, but not 

 much. Asparagus is cut the same year, taking care to leave the 

 weak plants, and those which have replaced others, untouched for 

 another year. 



The process of gathering is interesting to the stranger. 

 Asparagus-knivos of various forms are described in both French 



