Chap. XXVII.] ASPARAGUS CULTUEE. 473 



teenth or fifteenth year, after which the stems, though plentiful, 

 are rather smaller. In good cultivation it lasts from 18 to 20 

 years. The Dutch Asparagus has stems from 1 to 3^ in. round at 

 8 in. from the tops, and attains a height of about 4 ft. It is not 

 so fine in any respect as the Argenteuil kinds, and requires a 

 richer and deeper soil, so its culture is generally abandoned. 

 Among its other defects, it grows hard very quickly, opens out at 

 its points, and becomes green in 24 hours. At the Halles at Paris 

 it fetches 10;^. per box, while the Argenteuil Asparagus realises 

 2s. 6d. or 3s. This statement as to the varieties is on the authority 

 of M. Grodefroy-Leheuf, of Argenteuil. It is commonly believed 

 in England that there is no real distinction between the different 

 varieties of Asparagus. In conversation, however, with trust- 

 worthy growers at Argenteuil, and from what I saw there, I think 

 there can be no doubt that there are at least two distinct kinds, 

 an early and a late. 



The French mode of cultivating Asparagus difiers from our 

 own in giving each plant abundant room to develop into a large 

 healthy specimen ; in paying thoughtful attention to the plants 

 at all times ; and in planting in a trench instead of a raised bed- 

 They do not, as we do, go to great expense in forming a mass of 

 the richest soil far beneath the roots, but rather give it at the 

 surface, and only when the roots have begun to grow strongly. 



The following from a French gentleman well acquainted with 

 the culture may be useful here : — 



" In February, should the weather he favourable, form the ground into ridges 



4 ft. wide and 1 ft. high, and in March or April, according to the weather, 

 make a trench between each ridge a few inches deep, and plant on little hills 

 or elevations 3 ft. apart, cautiously spreading out the roots, and covering 

 them with 1 in. of good compost ; then add an inch of fine soil. A stick should 

 be inserted obliquely to protect the roots and to which the small stems can he 

 fastened when they require support. Keep the ground clear of weeds and destroy 

 all slugs, snails, and Asparagus beetles ; the latter lays its eggs on the stems, and 

 when the larv£e are hatched, they destroy the young plants. Water two or three 

 times durino' the summer with liquid manure if needed. In the autumn, when 

 the stems have withered, cut them do^^'n to 1 in. or 2 in. in height, and remove 

 the soil from the roots, leaving only about 1 in. or so of covering, and put a light 

 layer of old manure or compost from 2 in. to 3 in. in depth over the roots. Thus 

 covered, the roots will never get injured by frost and the ground will be enriched. 



" Second Year. — In February or March fork up the bed, making small hillocks 



5 in. or 6 in. high over each plant. Make good any plants that may have failed. 



