ASFABA01TB CTTLTUBa. 69 



APPENDIX. 



PBIZES FOB ASPARAGUS. 

 With a view to improve and extend the culture of Asparagns 

 throTigliout the United Kingdom, it is proposed to give a 

 Beries of annual prizes, extending over a period of seven years. 

 These prizes -will be given in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and 

 the north and west of England in consecutive years. They 

 are given with the object of having thoroughly tested in all 

 parts of the country the plan adopted near Paris of planting 

 far apart, and without much extensive preparation. This 

 system may be carried out in the smallest gardens, in fields, 

 or fmit gardens, without the considerable preliminary expense 

 and preparation usually considered necessary for the forma- 

 tion of Asparagus beds. The competitors will, however, be 

 free to adopt whatever plan of culture they may think most 

 suitable to their soil and locality. It is, however, whoUy 

 impossible to produce Asparagus of the first quality by the 

 crowded system of planting in use in private gardens through- 

 out the United Kingdom, and there is reason to believe that 

 much rich manure given before planting is not only needless, 

 but injurious. In the Paris system little or no manure is 

 given at the time of planting. The plants — one year's 

 seedlings — are planted in shallow trenches, 3 to 4 ft. apart in 

 the Une, and the lines about 4 ft. apart. There is no loss of 

 space under this system, as alight crop is taken ofE the ground 

 between the lines when the plants are young. In free, loamy 

 soils of fair quality many excellent growers make no prepara- 

 tion of the gi'ound before planting. In England the plantings 

 may be best done in April and in May, according to locality. 

 Manure is not usually given till the plants are established, and 

 then only over the roots. Asparagus is also grown as single 



