102 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap« 



you may have some asparagus to eat. The next 

 fall, and every succeeding tail, cut down the haulm 

 and cover with litter as before ; and, in the spring, 

 of this third year, put on ashes again, or other fine 

 manure, and throw over the beds the earth that 

 will come out of the paths dug six inches deep. 

 This will make the paths six inches lower than the 

 beds, and that is a great convenience for weeding^ 

 and for cutting the Asparagus. After this, you 

 are to cut down the haulm in the fall, cover with 

 litter during winter, fork up and occasionally ma- 

 nure in the spring, to keep the ground constantly 

 free from weeds, to dig the paths up every fall, and 

 keep them clear from weeds in summer. — The 

 second method of making the beds is, to begin with 

 plants^ instead of seed. The plants (raised as 

 above stated) may be planted in the beds at one 

 year old, or older, if it so happen. Plant them at 

 the same depth that is pointed out for depositing 

 the seed. And, in all other respects, proceed as 

 in the case of a bed begun with seed. As to the 

 time of beginning to cut, some say the third year, 

 some the fourth^ and some even the fifth. There 

 can be no fixed time ; for, so much depends on the 

 soil and treatment. Asparagus, like other things, 

 ought to be used when it comes in perfection, and 

 not before. — All that has here been said proceeds 

 upon the supposition that the soil has a dry bottom. 

 If a wet bottom, sow, or plant, at the top of the 

 ground, and, in all other respects proceed as in the 

 case of a dry bottom ; except, that the earth to 

 cover the bed with must, time after time, be dug 

 out of the paths, which will, at last, make the 

 paths into ditches, three feet deep from the tops of 

 the beds. By these means the roots of the plants 

 will be kept some years longer from reaching the 



