32 



ASPABAGUS CULTURE. 



FESFE ASPARAGUS AT GUNTON" PARK. 



I have sent yon fifty heads of Asparagns grown on the French, 

 system, as described in the " Parks and Gardens of Paris." 

 The fifty heads weigh about 7 lb. When I came to Gunton in 

 1867, 1 f onnd the Asparagus beds all on the old system — 4 ft. 

 wide, and the produce of the poorest description. Notwith- 

 standing heavy manuring and salting, it improved but very 

 little. The soil is a sandy loam, resting on wet sand, and the 

 drainage sluggish, owing to the gardens being fiat and low. 

 In 1839, having read the chapter on Asparagus culture, I 

 concluded that the plan was the right one, ^nd at once planted 

 seven rows, 102 ft. long. "When three years old the beds had 

 done so well that I began cutting freely, and the following 

 winter I lifted the whole of the old beds and forced the plants, 

 and since that time we have grown no Asparagus, except in 

 what I may call the new style. Four years ago I made another 

 plantation, 114 ft. by 30 ft., and now we always have an abun- 

 dance of excellent Asparagus. I, like Mr. Fish, thought when 

 we had our old beds that our soil was not suitable for Aspara- 

 gus culture ; and even now I believe that there are soils mucli 

 better adapted for the purpose. But what to me proves so* 

 conclusively that the French method is the best is the fact 

 that my present beds were raised from seeds saved from the 

 old plants. In saving the seed I always, however, selected it 

 from the plants that threw up the strongest stems, and before 

 planting I allowed the young plants to grow a few inches, in 

 order that I might select those with the fewest and strongest 

 shoots, as I always find that a plant which, in its young state, 

 throws up a quantity of small young shoots, maintains that 

 habit in succeeding years. A plant of the above description 

 will increase in size rapidly, but will continue to throw up a 

 cloud of small spray, and never by any chance a vigorous 

 shoot. I sowed last year a packet of Connover's Colossal, 

 and have this season planted out two rows, each 102 ft. long 



