436 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



leration of the plants. These beds should be 

 covered with wood covers, made with a rise in the 

 centre, in order to throw off the rain water that 

 falls ; or they may be covered with mats and 

 hoops ; but the former is the more durable method. 



ASPARAGUS. 



This favourite vegetable is justly considered as 

 one of great luxury during the Winter months. 

 The acceleration of it, by artificial heat, in order to 

 produce it in perfection at an early period of the 

 season, is now very generally resorted to. By these 

 means, a supply of it may be continued, from the 

 beginning of December, (or earlier,) until the time 

 when it appears in the open ground in its natural 

 state. 



The most general method of exciting this plant, 

 is by forming beds of well prepared dung, or a mix- 

 ture of leaves and dung. Either of these mate- 

 rials, separately, will form very suitable beds, if 

 previously well prepared. The dung, or leaves, 

 should first be thrown in a heap, and frequently 

 turned over for a fortnight or so, in order that it may 

 be well fermented, and that the rankness of the 

 steam may fully evaporate. When the materials 

 appear well fermented, and sweated, they will be 

 fit for formation into a bed ; which should be 

 made for an early crop, to the thickness of three or 

 four feet, in order that it may return a steady heat 

 through the severity of the Winter. Where the bed 



