24 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



large pots, and water freely in dry weather, occasion- 

 ally giving rather strong liquid manure. Remove the 

 pots when the plants begin to grow. In October re- 

 move all small suckers, and mulch the ground with dung 

 three inches thick between the rows. In the absence 

 of dung, use grass mowings. The beds last for about 

 five years, when a fresh plantation should be made. 

 Manure the beds annually early in spring with a layer 

 of fine wood or coal ashes forked in, and then a heavy 

 dressing of half rotten clung. Mulch the ground an- 

 nually in October. 



Artichoke Chards : In October or November cut 

 away the leaves and stems of a few plants to within 

 six inches of the ground : many young shoots will soon 

 appear ; when sufficiently grown, draw them together 

 and bind them up in haybands. In a month they will 

 be blanched. 



ASPARAGUS. 



In making asparagus beds, choose the best soil 

 which the garden affords. The most favorable is a 

 deep sandy loam, dug deep and well manured, a good 

 sprinkling of salt being added to the surface a month 

 or two before the planting season, that the rain and 

 atmosphere may act upon it. Before planting, the 

 ground should have another good dressing of well 

 rotted manure, be trenched again two feet to two feet 

 six inches deep, and again well sprinkled with salt, 

 leaving the surface neat and even as the work proceeds. 

 The Connova is much esteemed by some growers, on 

 account of its gigantic size. 



Planting : During May or June, mark out the 

 beds four feet wide, with paths two feet wide running 

 north aucl south. Strain a line parallel with the bed 

 nine inches from the side ; with a spade cut a trench 

 six inches deep perpendicular on the side next the 

 line ; against this place the plants at fifteen inches 



