332 On the Modes of Cultivating Asparagus in Austria. 



in exactly the same way ; except that the place destined for 

 it must be trenched at least two feet deep, plentifully ma- 

 nured ; and, during the first year, watered, in dry weather, as 

 often as is needful. 



In order to form artificial Asparagus beds, the following 

 process is the most simple. In autumn, let the earth in a 

 part of the garden, which lies fully exposed to the sun, and 

 sheltered from the north, be dug out to the breadth of six feet, 

 and in depth from five to six feet; this trench is then to be 

 filled with decayed neat's dung, and cleanly sifted earth, in al- 

 ternate layers of about six inches in thickness. In the follow- 

 ing spring, the deficiency caused in the bed by sinking must 

 be made up with earth mixed with well decayed dung, and the 

 planting out of the choicest year-old roots begun, setting the 

 roots in quincunx, at the distance of full two feet asunder, and 

 covering them to the depth of four inches with good earth. 

 In the autumn, after the stalks are cut down, and the earth 

 stirred, the bed must be covered two inches deep with old de- 

 cayed neat's dung, which, in the next spring, is to be worked 

 under the surface by careful digging. This is to be continued 

 every successive spring, till the stratum of earth which covers 

 the heads of the roots has reached the thickness of from six to 

 eight inches; a mere surface dunging is then to be given, and 

 this, after lying on through the winter, is at the proper time 

 in the following spring to be cleared off. Managed in this 

 way, the Asparagus plants last for fifteen years, and yield, 

 according to the requisite strength they attain, unusually thick 

 shoots. 



If it be intended to plant Asparagus for winter use, the one- 

 year roots must then be put into a piece of good garden 



