6 ABVURkOVS cni.TUBB. 



carefully hoed and free from weeds, the plants will be in fine 

 condition for planting out the following Bpring; whereas, 

 should they be neglected, it will take two years before they are 

 as large as well-attended one-year-old plants. It is in conse- 

 quence of this very common neglect that many ciiitiTatorg 

 labour under the impression that the plants must be two or 

 three years old before planting; which is undoubtedly a 

 mistake, for all good growers invariably plant one-year-old- 

 plants, and count on reaping a crop the third spring from the 

 time of sowing. One pound of seed will produce about 3,000 

 plants, and to plant an acre of Asparagus requires from 15,000 

 to 20,000 plants. fcJome of the finest shoots which push in thc- 

 early part of the season from certain crowns should be allowed 

 to run to seed. These should have the full benefit of exposure 

 to light and air ; and, as they advance in growth, they mnsi 

 be firmly staked, to prevent breakage by wind. When fully 

 ripe, the largest and finest berries, of the deepest red colour, 

 should be selected. They should then be carefully and 

 graduall}- dried ; or they may, after lying about ten days, be 

 squeezed between the hands, and the pulp washed away ; but 

 by the former method they keep the longest. 



PIAMTING. 



This should not be done till after the buds begin to push, as 

 this plant, from its peculiar succulent roots, is less susceptible 

 of injury from late planting than most other vegetables ; yet 

 it should not be delayed too long after the ground has become 

 fit for its reception, in the end of April, as tlie sooner it is 

 then planted the better will be the result. Plant in rows 2 fee t 

 apart, 1 6 inches be ing left b etween the plant s in tne row. 

 Planting in rows in preference to beas is recommended, for 

 by BO doing the plants are allowed room enough to develope 

 their roots without interlacing each other, and consequently 

 causing an impoverishment of the soil. After being planted 

 two years, every alternate row is best taken up for forcing, 

 thus leaving the permanent rows 4 feet apart. The direction 

 of the rows for the main crops is immaterial, but for the 

 earliest ones it would be advisable to run them east and west, 

 80 as to be more immediately under the direct action of the 

 sun's rays when they are most powerful. As soon as the 

 Asparagus has commenced to shoot an inch or two, level the 

 ground down methodically. mai-V out' the roir . 2 feet apart, 

 placing a stake at each end, where the rows are to be planted i 



