72 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



— In certain soils the Argenteuil system is open to objec- 

 tion, it being inapplicable to districts where clay, heavy marl,, 

 or other compact soils prevail ; and such soils extend far and 

 wide over England. Asparagus growers in such localities have 

 found by long experience that, in order to obtain a successful 

 result, it is necessary to prepare special composts, and to raise 

 beds above the general level of the ground, so as to keep the 

 roots from penetrating into the cold subsoil, and to secure the 

 increased warmth such elevated beds afford. Asparagus roots 

 will travel 3 ft. beneath the soil, and, reaching clay, they soon 

 decay or fail to act beneficially. The best examples of Aspara- 

 gus I meet with amongst cottagers and amateurs, where no- 

 special care is taken in the preparation of beds, is invariably 

 in districts like Lincolnshire where the soil is light and deep, 

 much of it gravelly sand or light loam resting on gravel. 

 After trying the several plans of surface cultivation, the raised 

 flat-topped beds, and the simple ridge raised from a 3-ft. base, 

 and planted with one row of plants, I have proved that for the 

 soil I have to manage (a modified clay) the last-named is far 

 the best plan. It occurs to me also that as your prizes are 

 offered for the largest heads of Asparagus, and not for the 

 amount of produce over a given surface of land, they will 

 reach those who can afford the most space and manure, or 

 will be confined to localities enjoying natural advantages. 

 Could you not restrict the extent of ground, or the number of 

 plants, and make a distinction between Asparagus grown in 

 favourable and unfavourable localities ? The economical pro- 

 duction of every vegetable should always be made a considera- 

 tion. 



Belvoir Castle Gardens, Grantham. W. Ingram. 



[What is here proposed is desirable, but cannot be carried 

 out. We must do what is best in the interest of all. Suit- 

 able soils occur in many localities in every county. Few would 

 expect to produce the best result on unsuitable soils. We have 

 seen good results from the adoption of the thin-planting way 



