58 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



Forcing in the Open Ground. — Continue the work of 

 the preceding month, and begin gathering the second batch 

 of forced Asparagus if you have not already begun to do so in 

 January. 



Forcing 1 in Heat. — Keep warm those beds intended to 

 yield at the end of February and the beginning of March. 



March. 



Open Ground. — Continue planting in dry situations, be- 

 ginning only at the end of the month in damp soils. Begin 

 to earth up at the end of the month those heads which show 

 signs of appearing. Earth up in the trenches to a depth of 

 2 in. or 3 in. if you have not done so in February. Begin 

 cutting the early varieties. 



Frames in the Open Ground. — Take away the frames 

 and stable manure towards the end of March. Empty the 

 trenches and fill them with soil. 



Forcing in Heat. — Towards the end of the month break 

 up the beds, the open-air culture taking the part of forcing 

 in heat. 



April. 



Finish planting and earth up those stools which have been 

 left open during the preceding month. Continue to gather, 

 hoe and weed the beds and the mounds. Keep a sharp look- 

 out for the Crioceris and other insects. Destroy snails and 

 slugs, both of which are particularly fond of the young heads 

 just at the moment when they show their tips above the sur- 

 face of the earth. 



May. 



Continue to gather, hoe and weed the beds and mounds. 

 Wage incessant war against the Asparagus beetle and other 

 enemies of the plant. In young plantations especially keep a 

 sharp look-out for the cockchafer grub. Sticks are placed at the 

 foot of the stems of the young plants to which they are tied 

 with rush or bast ; or else they are left unearthed, which is 



