ASPARAGUS CULTURE* 



of the plant : besides, ultimately a bed of the purest vegetable 

 matter is formed, into which, on both sides, the succulent roots 

 of the Asparagus plants run freely. In this way, from the 

 proximity of the roots to the surface, the genial influences of 

 solar heat, and due atmospheric action, are enjoyed by the 

 plant, without the least danger of its ever suffering from 

 drought, in consequence of the non- evaporating nature of the 

 vegetable mulching or covering alluded to, which receives and 

 retains, as a sponge, the greater portion of the moisture that 

 falls upon it, whereas, in the common Asparagus bed, the 

 surface during the dry part of the year is almost completely 

 exposed to the action of the sun and air, and, during any 

 continuance of dry weather, may be seen to crack or rend in 

 every direction, to the destruction of the roots in very many 

 instances. After the shoots have begun to come up, we imme- 

 diately begin to look regularly and carefully after the thinning. 

 When the plants have pushed two or more heads each, the 

 weakest are regularly cut away, as the stronger heads appear; 

 so that by the end of the first season, not more than two, or at 

 most three shoots, are left to grow to maturity on each plant. 

 Proper attention to the thinning of Asparagus, in the first 

 instance, immediately after planting, during the first and second 

 years and afterwards, also in cutting for use, is of essentialimpor- 

 tance towards the future welfare of the plant. In consequence 

 of proper attention not being paid to the subject of cutting, 

 arising either from carelessness of the consequences, or from 

 over-anxiety on the part of the gardener to send to table a good 

 dish, much evil ensues to the plantation; for, frequently, 

 instead of leaving a sufficient supply of strong shoots regularly 

 over the bed, they are all cut away, and the weakest left, the 

 inevitable result of which is a supply of comparatively small 

 buds for the crop of the year following. 



WINTER TREATMENT. 



In November, or, as soon as the tops of the Asparagus 

 become yellow, the whole should be cut over, and the soil 

 along the crown of the ridge or line cleared away a little with 

 the hand, when about 4 inches of sea or river sand should be 

 laid along over the line of plants — this chiefly for the purpose 

 of providing against the depredations of slugs in spring, and 

 facilitating the clean free progress of the heads the next season . 

 In the spaces between the lines, a few barrow-loads of rotten 

 dung, leaves, or sea- weed may be laid, and the whole should 



