Book I. 



ASPARAGUS. 



647 



Society on the culture of asparagus in Austria, says, " to give asparagus-shoots growing 

 in the open air as much length and tenderness as possible, there is inserted over each stem 

 destined to be gathered, as soon as it shoots above ground, a woe ien tube or pipe eigh- 

 teen inches high, and one inch in diameter." (Hort. Trans, v. 334.) Dr. Forbes, on the 

 same subject, says, " in order to preserve the whiteness of the asparagus-shoots, they 

 should be covered with a wooden or earthen pipe of twelve or fifteen inches in height, with 

 a hole in the top." (Hort. Trans, v. 336.) 



3888. Cutting and gathering. " In new plantations, be careful not to begin cutting 

 tin the stools are advanced to mature age, having been planted three or four years, and 

 become of competent strength for producing full-sized shoots. Likewise observe, both in 

 new and old beds, to gather all the produce in a regular successive order within the proper 

 limits of the season specified above. As the rising shoots project two, three, four, or five 

 inches at most above ground, while the top bud remains close and plump, they are in the 

 best condition for gathering. Cut them off within the ground, with a narrow sharp- 

 pointed knife, or small saw, nine inches long ; thrusting the knife, or saw, down straight, 

 close to each shoot separately, cut it oflT slantingly, about three inches below the surface, 

 with care not to wound the younger buds advancing below. Observe, in a new plant- 

 ation, in the first year's gathering, if the shoots come up of irregular sizes, to cut only- 

 some of the larger for a fortnight, or three or four weeks, and then permit the whole to 

 run ; but otherwise, when in strong production, gather all as they come, two or three 

 times a-week, or as required, during the season, till the 21st of June; then, at farthest, 

 terminate the cutting, and permit the after-shoots to run up in stalk till October. If from 

 a particular inducement you cut later than the 21st of June, be careful to leave two or 

 more shoots to each stool, in order to draw nourishment to it ; for the stools left without 

 growing shoots will perish, and by negligence in this respect many vacuities or unpro- 

 ductive spots are left in beds." (Abercrombie.) 



3889, Nicol says, the best method of cutting is to scrape away an inch'or two of the earth from the shoot 

 you would cut, and then slip the asparagus-knife (^^^5. Ill, 112.) down another inch or two, taking care not 

 to wound the crown, or any adjoining shoot. Shoots two inches under the ground, and three or four above 

 it, make the handsomest dishes. , 



3890. Ncill observes, " after the beds are in full bearing, all the shoots are gathered as they advance, till 

 the end of June or beginning of July a common rule being to " let asparagus spin (grow up), when green 

 peas come in." Dr. IVIacculloch states that the same practice is pursued in France. 



389L Judd says, " I never make a practice of cutting very much after the first week in June : I then 

 begin to let it run ; in fact, I never cut the very small grass at all. Asparagus being so valuable a vege- 

 table, some persons continue to cut indiscriminately till the latter end of June, but this practice is of very 

 great injury to the next year's produce." (-Hort. Trans, vol. ii. 237.) 



3892. Duration of the crop. Generally, three months ; from the middle of April to the 

 middle of July. (Neill.) 



3893. Duration of the plantation. Abercrombie says, ** A plantation of asparagus, 

 under good culture will mostly continue for ten or twelve years to afford plentiful crops ; 

 after which, the stools usually decline in fertility, and the shoots in quality ; so that to 

 provide a permanent annual supply, some fresh beds should be planted a sufficient time 

 beforehand, allowing four years for their advancing to a productive state." 



3894. Dr. MaccuUoch says, the French beds which he describes "will generally last thirty years; but, if 

 they be planted in such abundance as to require cutting once in two years, half the bed being always in a 

 state of reservation, it will last a century or more." {Calcd. Mem. vol. ii. 250.) 



3895. To save asparagus-seed. " Select some of the finest and earliest heads as they 

 make their appearance in the spring ; tie them to stakes during summer, taking care not 

 to drive the stake through the crown of the plant. In autumn, when the berries are ripe, 

 wash out the seeds, if for the market, or to be sent to a distance ; but, for home-sowing, keep 

 them in the berry till the time of sowing, the pulp being a gi*eat nourishment to the 

 seed, which ought to be kept in a dry place during the winter." {Judd, in Hort. Trans. 

 vol. ii. 234.) 



3896. Forcing asparagus. Meager, writing in the middle of the 17th century, men- 

 tions, that the London market was, at that period, supplierl with forced asparagus early in 

 the year. " Some having old beds of aspai-agus, which they are minded to destroy, and 

 having convenience of new or warm dung, lay their old plants in order on the dung, and 

 the heat doth force forward a farewell crop." {English Gardener, 188.) Where much 

 asparagus is forced, it becomes necessary to form plantations on purpose for an annual 

 supply. The plants are raised from seed in the usual way ; but when transplanted, as 

 they are not intended to remain longer than three years in the bed or plantation, they need 

 not be planted wider than seven or nine inches. When of three years' standing in the bed, 

 they are eligible for removal to the forcing pit or frame, or to be excited by a super- 

 stratum of tan and warm dung, in the manner of sea-kale or rhubarb. As some guide to 

 proportion the forcing plantations to the demand, 600 plants are required for an ordinary- 

 sized three-light frame, which, Nicol says, will yield a dish every day for about three 

 ^veeks. 



3897. For the details of forcing asparagus, see Ch. VIII. Sect. IX. 



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