234 Asparagus Culture in France. 



to the crown, so as to indicate the exact site of the plants for the 

 fourth year. 



" After having spread the manure, the ridges must be dug up, 

 and the manure covered with an inch or two of earth from the 

 ridges, a small hillock being left over the crown of each plant. 



" Fourth Year. — ^About the middle of March, in dry weather, 

 or the day after a sprinkling of rain, knolls of the height of from 

 ten to twelve inches must be formed over each plant with good 

 mellow earth. The feeble plants, marked with a small stick at 

 the preceding laying bare, are to be covered over with hillocks of 

 a thickness of from four to six inches only. 



" While earthing up the asparagus the ends of the dry stalks are 

 to be taken away. The gathering is to take place from the largest 

 ones during one month at the most. Then they are to be left to 

 run into seed. The most feeble ones are to be spared in order to 

 strengthen them. At the second dressing in the month of May, 

 earth is taken from the shelving beds, in order to cover over, to an 

 extent of an inch or two, the whole surface of the grounds, so as 

 to protect the asparagus plantation from the dryness of the summer. 

 The stakes should be five feet high. 



" In the month of October the stalks of the asparagus are to be 

 cut off at fourteen inches above the ground, and the plantation is 

 to be cleared of the rubbish ; manure is to be spread on the ridges, 

 which are to be made up from the knolls in the trenches ; and are 

 then to be dug up to a depth of sixteen inches. 



" Notwithstanding the manure laid upon the shelving beds, the 

 roots of the asparagus are to be carefully laid bare in the manner 

 already described. Upon the crowns are to be put a few handfuls 

 of good manure, which is to be covered over with two inches of 

 good mellow earth ; the knolls, which are to be formed over the 

 centre of the plants, are to be over three inches in height. 



" Fifth Year. — The making of knoUs on the asparagus is to 

 begin in the month of March ; the knolls are to be fourteen inches 

 high, and their diameter is to be in conformity with the dimensions 

 of the plants. The gathering is to consist of the heads on all the 



