OX FORCING ASPARAGUS. 91 



from end to end, will occupy the space ; the top 

 courses of the whole to be laid in cement, and 

 finished with a curb of wood four inches wide, 

 and three thick, laid on the four-inch brick- 

 work. This is done in order to rest and fix 

 upon it a span-roof of sixteen inches high to 

 cover the beds ; to the top of which shutters of 

 eight feet long are to be fixed, so as to fall down 

 on each side of the span, to protect the beds 

 from the weather ; and these shutters must be 

 so constructed as to admit, by means of proper 

 hinges, the turning over of either, from the one 

 side to the other, in order to obtain access to 

 the interior of the bed. 



The curb, framework, and shutters, should be 

 so made as to be moved at pleasure from one 

 bed to another ; as thus two sets of coverings 

 may be rendered available to carry on forcing 

 alternately in any number of beds. With proper 

 care andattention to painting or tarring, these 

 coverings will last many years. 



The next thing is preparing the beds for the 



