512 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



" Fifth Year. — The making of hillocks on the Asparagus 

 is to begin in the month of March ; they are to be fourteen 

 inches high^ and their diameter is to be in conformity with 

 the diameter of each specimen or ' stool.'' The gathering is 

 to consist of the heads on all the large plants,, and of some 

 only on the feeble ones ; the gathering may last two months 

 at most. In order to get fine Asparagus^ the heads are to 

 be gathered once every day^ or every other day, or every 

 third day at farthest, according to the degree of tem- 

 perature. This is the way to obtain rosy, red, or violet 

 Asparagus. In order to get it green it will be sufficient to 

 let the heads grow during four or five days more ; they will 

 lengthen and become green. The second dressing is to be 

 made as in the preceding years. The stakes are to be put 

 in as soon as the necessity is felt, and the stems, having 

 regard to the increase of their height and weight, must be 

 firmly tied, so that the wind may not disturb them and 

 that they may not be broken. In the month of October 

 following, the dry stalks are to be cut off at fourteen inches 

 above the ground. The plantation is to be cleared, and 

 the ridges are to be replenished by adding to them the 

 earth of the knolls which have been raised on the plants 

 for the gathering. Then the manure is to be spread in the 

 manner already indicated ; and the digging up of the ridges 

 is next to take place. 



Sixth Year. — When the Asparagus plantation shall have 

 reached its sixth yeai^ it will then be in full productiveness. 

 The forming of knolls is to take place in March during fine 

 and dry weather ; the knolls must always be fourteen inches 

 high, reckoning from the subterranean stock. The care to 

 be taken is to be the same as in the preceding years, par- 

 ticularly with regard to cleanliness and staking. As for 

 insects, they will be less to be feared than during the first 

 years of the establishment of the plantation. The beetles 

 can no longer lay their eggs on the stalks, since they are 

 cut during two months, and when allowed to start up the 

 time of the laying of eggs is past. In the month of October 

 the shehdng beds are to be turned up in conformity with the 

 manner shown for the preceding year ; the shelving beds and 



