160 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



{Maij. 



Few attempts at blanching the tops of asparagus have been 

 made in this country, otherwise than by having an abundance 

 of loose earth on the surface, through which they spring ; but 

 Lasteyrie informs us {Col. de Machines) that joints of cane are 

 placed separately over each stalk in Spain ; and Bauman, of 

 Vienna, in a communication to the Horticultural Society, on 

 the culture of asparagus in Austria, says, " to give asparagus- 

 shoots, growing in the open air, as much length and tenderness 

 as possible, there is inserted over each stem destined to be 

 gathered, as soon as it shoots above ground, a wooden tube 

 or pipe eighteen inches high, and one inch in diameter. (Hort. 

 Trans, vol. iii. 34.) We have practised, for the last two years, 

 covering a part of the asparagus-beds with rotten tan, or saw- 

 dust, which has answered the purpose tolerably well. But as 

 this vegetable is not generally preferred in a blanched state, 

 this practice is not likely to become general. 



LAYING DOWN WINTER ONIONS. 



Examine the winter crop, and wherever the onions are shoot- 

 ing for seed, pick out their heart-buds. Remove all weeds 

 fi'om amongst them, and then lay down the crop, which is done 

 by bending the stems down flat, just above the bulb. This 

 operation may be performed by the hand, but much time is 

 saved, by two persons with a pole or the handle of a rake, 

 each holding one of the ends, in such a manner as, when 

 walking up the alleys, to strike the stems about an inch or two 

 above the bulb. This process, which is called " laying over," 

 is of great benefit to all crops of onions, as the growth of the 

 stem is thereby considerably checked, and the w^hole nourish- 

 ment thrown into the bulb. It is particularly beneficial to the 

 late crops in bad seasons, for a stop is thereby put to the 

 luxuriance of their growth, and are, consequently, in a great 

 degree, obliged to ripen. 



GENERAL CROPS OF ONIONS. 



The general crops of onions should, towards the middle or 

 end of the month, be cleared from weeds. This operation 



