VEGETABLES — DESCRIPTION AND CULTUEE. 171 



it, as they are constantly putting forth from the crowns. 

 Too many shoots should not be cut from the beds, nor the 

 gathering prolonged too late. Whenever the bed puts 

 up weak and small shoots, these should be allowed to re- 

 main, which will increase the size of those remaining, and 

 the future value of the bed. When green peas become 

 plentiful, the asparagus bed should rest. After the cut- 

 ting ceases, you may judge from the size of the summer 

 shoots the productiveness of the bed the coming spring. 

 These elaborate the food for the future crop. The manure 

 applied in autumn has but little effect on the next spring's 

 shoots, but from its influence the strong growth of the 

 succeeding summer will prepare an abundant supply of 

 large shoots the second spring. The spring and autumn 

 dressings should be continued while the bed lasts, for the 

 top soil must be kept perfectly free and light, that the 

 shoots may readily push through it, and the surface left 

 rough, that it may catch and retain the winter rains so as 

 thoroughly to moisten the lower roots. Finally, good as- 

 paragus is not to be obtained without an abundant supply 

 of manure. The beds will, if thus treated, remain pro- 

 ductive twelve or fifteen years. 



Asparagus can be forced by planting a hot-bed thickly 

 with thrifty roots ; it comes into bearing in four weeks, 

 and affords asparagus for a month in the winter season. 

 Give plenty of air in mild weather. 



For /Seed. — Reserve some of the best shoots in the 

 spring, and mark them by placing a stake by each one, 

 and let them run up and ripen their, seeds. Take shoots 

 with fine, round, close heads ; fasten them, as they grow, 

 up to the stake, and the seed will ripen better. Gather 

 the seed when ripe, and wash off the pulp and husk, which 

 will pass off with the water, if gently poured off, and the 

 seeds will sink to the bottom. Dry them thoroughly, and 

 store away for use. They are, for your own sowing, just 



