By Mr. Peter Lindegaard. 



513 



four inches thick, more or less, according to the state of the 

 weather. 



Both ends of the beds must likewise be provided with a 

 lining of fresh dung as deep in the ground as the alleys. 

 The whole being thus ready, nothing more is to be done, but 

 from time to time to observe the temperature of the beds. 

 I usually put some sticks into them, by which the encreas- 

 ing heat may be observed. In a fortnight after the whole is 

 finished, a few shoots will make their appearance, the first 

 gathering will then take place ; a man, who walks on the top 

 of the linings, throws the dung or litter from the half bed 

 upon the other side, so far, that the man who gathers can put 

 one foot on the narrow board in the centre, and the other on 

 the lining. Two men come immediately after on the other 

 side, to remove the litter from the opposite side, and a man 

 follows to gather ; the litter must, as soon as possible, be 

 spread on the beds again. The beds will afford but few shoots 

 till they become warm. It will be necessary every third 

 day to examine the temperature of the beds, that the shoots 

 may not grow too long ; when the beds are not over-forced, 

 they will continue to produce Asparagus for five or six weeks. 



When gathering has ceased, or rather on the approach of 

 spring, it will be advantageous to the roots of the Asparagus 

 to remove the dung from the alleys, and fill up the cavity 

 with good rich mould, for the new roots which the plants 

 emit in the summer, cannot extend themselves in the dung 

 which was employed for forcing, which will be bound to- 

 gether in a compact mass. The dung must likewise be taken 

 off, from the beds, and they are then to be raked over ; there 

 will still appear some shoots in the spring, which are to be 

 left for the support of the roots during the summer. 



vol. v. 3 X 



