ON THE CULTURE OF ASP AE AG US. 



39 



In my opinion the differences thus observed are mere accidents. 

 I do not find that Mr. Bickes' preparation has any appreciable 

 effect, either beneficial or otherwise. 



John Lindley. 



VI. — On the Culture of Asparagus at Killerton. By Mr. W. 

 Craggs, Gardener to Sir T. D. Acland, Bart., M.P., F.H.S. 



(Communicated October, 1846.) 

 The large size and excellence of the Asparagus grown at Kil- 

 lerton having excited attention in consequence of its having 

 been exhibited at the Society's Meetings in Regent-street, 

 where it has successively obtained a Banksian Medal and a 

 Certificate of Merit, Mr. Craggs has been requested to state 

 his mode of cultivation ; and he does so as follows : — 



Having for some years been successful in the cultivation of 

 asparagus, I beg to offer an account of my method ; and al- 

 though in this there may be nothing new, yet if fully carried 

 out I am sure it will prove as successful with others as it has 

 done with me. 



About the middle of May, I select some of the finest heads 

 for seed, and in autumn, when the seeds are ripe, I wash them 

 out of the berry, drying them as quickly as possible, and pre- 

 serving them in a dry place during winter. 



Sow early in March, in a rich piece of ground, prepared for 

 the purpose. I generally sow broadcast, in beds four feet in 

 width ; drawing the soil with the back of a rake equally off" on 

 each side of the bed into the alleys, so as to cover the seed about 

 an inch in depth. The seeds are sown moderately thick, and 

 after the young plants are about two inches in height, I thin 

 them out to about three inches apart, which allows those that 

 remain to become fine strong plants for next year's planting. 

 Should the season prove dry, an occasional watering will be of 

 great benefit. 



In selecting the ground for permanent beds, choose a piece 

 free from trees, and sloping to the south, if possible. I should 

 prefer a strong sandy loam of the depth of three feet ; if not 

 naturally so deep, make it that depth artificially. Take out a 

 trench two feet six inches wide and three feet deep ; laying one- 

 third of the soil on the vacant ground where you commence, 

 and carrying the other to the place where you intend to finish. 

 Suppose the trench to be now taken out, and the ground ready 

 for trenching, lay over the whole surface, six inches in depth of 

 dung from old hotbeds, shaking it well with a fork. Turn in 



