1906.] AsrARAGus Growing in France. 



495 



There is no absolute rule for the arrangement of the plants ; 

 they may be placed in rows by themselves, or in beds about 

 4l ft. wide containing two rows with the plants 2 ft. apart each 

 way. In growing for show purposes the space may be in- 

 creased. 



Planting in trenches was at one time the only method adopted, 

 but now planting in beds is recognized as simpler and less 

 expensive. In the course of March or April at the latest, the 

 soil should be prepared, after having been well dug over and 

 heavily manured during the winter ; the top surface of the beds 

 should be removed to a depth of about 8 inches, the soil being 

 put on the paths. Well rotted dung or some other active 

 manure should then be spread on the top of the bed. The 

 places the crowns are to occupy should then be marked out at 

 the distances previously mentioned, and a little heap of well 

 prepared soil or leaf mould, about 2 in. high, made at each point 

 upon which the crown is placed and firmly pressed down, taking 

 care to spread out the roots all round. The place should be 

 marked by a stick. When all the crowns have been planted, 

 the roots should be covered with vegetable mould or compost, 

 and soil added to bring the bed up to the former level, so that 

 the neck of the asparagus crown is not buried more than 3 to 

 4 in. and the lower roots themselves not more than 8 in. at the 

 most. : 



The soil remaining in the paths can be used for earthing up 

 in spring. During the first year, the bed will require repeated 

 cultivation by hoeing and stirring the surface, and watering 

 from time to time. At the beginning of winter, the shoots 

 should be cut off 8 to 11 ins. above the ground ; part of the soil 

 covering the crown should then be removed leaving only a 

 covering of i to li in. deep. This is the best time to apply 

 manure. The manures which have been found most effective 

 are well-rotted dung; town sewerage to which is sometimes 

 added sea-salt ; lime, chalk, marl, &c. ; and sulphate of ammonia, 

 chloride of potash, superphosphate of lime, and nitrate of 

 potash. The following compound manure has been used in 

 conjunction with farmyard manure : — 2j lb. superphosphate of 

 lime, I lb. of chloride of potash, i lb. nitrate of potash, and 

 1 lb. sulphate of ammonia per rod. 



