82 ASPABAairs ottltubb. 



PINE ASPARAGUS AT GUNTON PARE. 



I HAVE sent you fifty heads of Asparagus grown on the French 

 system, as described in the " Parka and Gardens of Paris." 

 The fifty heads weigh ahout 7 lb. When I came to Gunton in 

 1867, 1 found the Asparagus beds all on the old system — i ft. 

 wide, and the produce of the poorest description. Notwith- 

 standing heavy manuring and salting, it improved but very 

 little. The soil is a sandy loam, resting on wet sand, and the 

 drainage sluggish, owing to the gardens being flat and low. 

 In 1839, having read the chapter on Asparagus culture, I 

 concluded that the plan was the right one, and at once planted 

 seven rows, 102 ft. long. When three years old the beds had 

 done so well that I began cutting freely, and the following 

 winter I lifted the whole of the old beds and forced the plants, 

 and siace that time we have grown no Asparagus, except in 

 what I may call the new style. Four years ago I made another 

 plantation, 114 ft. by 30 ft., and now we always have an abun- 

 dance of excellent Asparagus. I, like Mr. Fish, thought when 

 we had our old beds that our soil was not suitable for Aspara- 

 gus culture ; and even now I believe that there are soUs much 

 better adapted for the purpose. But what to me proves so 

 conclusively that the French method is the best is the fact 

 that my present beds were raised from seeds saved from the 

 old plants. In saving the seed I always, however, selected it 

 from the plants that threw up the strongest stems, and before 

 planting I allowed the young plants to grow a few inches, ui 

 order that I might select those with the fewest and strongest 

 shoots, as I always find that a plant which, in its young state, 

 throws up a quantity of small young shoots, maintains that 

 habit in succeeding years, A plant of the above description 

 will increase in size rapidly, but will continue to throw up a 

 cloud of small spray, and never by any chance a vigorous 

 shoot. I sowed last year a packet of Connover's Colossal, 

 and have this season planted out two rows, each 102 *t. long 



