28 THE BOOK OF ASPARAGUS 



about 65 deg. was thus maintained for several weeks. 

 About three weeks from the time that the plants were 

 put in, a host of buds were visible, and then the bags 

 and mats on the sunny side were thrown back to the 

 north side for several hours a day, when not too cold. 

 I never saw such a uniform lot of shoots, scarcelv a small 

 one being among the lot ; in fact, I never had or saw 

 forced asparagus equal to them. Certainly the spring 

 was mild, and the work was comparatively easy in con- 

 sequence ; but the means of success employed were well 

 prepared three year old plants, and the steady heat which 

 fermenting leaves always afford if properly stacked 

 when collected. Had I plenty of oak leaves, asparagus 

 forcing would be a very simple matter, for, although I 

 have used hot water pipes for forcing, I never had such 

 good results as by using leaves. I had equal success 

 with seakale, both of these plants, in my opinion, being 

 of better quality, especially as to flavour, when forced 

 in this way than when other means are used. I have 

 also, when a large heap of leaves has been collected, 

 made the top of the heap flat, and taken two light 

 frames and put over the surface. Then, with a few 

 inches of light soil, plants such as before mentioned 

 were thickly placed, the lights put on, and a trial 

 stick thrust in the centre about a foot or a little more 

 into the leaves. Every morning the stick was pulled 

 out and the heat tested, as can be easily done if when 

 pulled out with one hand the other grasps the stick. By 

 the touch the heat is approximately judged. A very 

 gentle heat is always best, asparagus being easily spoiled 

 if a strong bottom heat be given. I have no doubt but 

 that spent tan would also answer well, as this gives a 

 steady and prolonged gentle heat. A mistake is often 

 made if stable manure is used, but of course if a large 

 quantity be required hot water pipes would be prefer- 

 able to any other method. A flow and return should be 



