THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



' Jan* 



FORCING ASPARAGUS. 



Asparagus was one of the first culinary vegetables accele- 

 rated by artificial means. The London market was supplied, 

 before the middle of the seventeenth century, w ith forced as- 

 paragus, at an early period of the year ; and it is still brought 

 to Covent Garden market during the winter, in greater per- 

 fection than to any other market in the world. It is brought 

 to perfection in a variety of w^ays, from the beginning of No- 

 vember until it comes in, in the open ground. Asi)aragus re- 

 quires a much less degree of temperature to produce it in per- 

 fection than almost any other vegetable, and is much sooner 

 injured by a strong heat, particularly if attended with much 

 steam. In preparing dung, therefore, for forming beds on 

 which to place the roots, or for external linings, more than 

 ordinary care should be taken to have it well prepared, that is, 

 by having it repeatedly turned and fermented, until the greatest 

 part of the rancidity of the dung shall have evaporated. 



The most general mode of forcing this esteemed vegetable 

 is, by making dung-beds, in the usual way, about three feet 

 high, of well-prepared dung. When they are finished, put on 

 the frames and lights, such as are generally used for growing 

 cucumbers and melons ; in this state the bed should remain till 

 such time as it has thoroughly attained a regular heat, and has, 

 what is technically called, well sweated itself. When this has 

 taken place, level and tread the surface regularly over. If 

 there be any apprehension of a violent heat taking place after 

 being thus prepared, the surface should be covered with turf 

 cut thin, and so placed, with the gi-assy side undermost, that 

 the joints may so unite with a slight beating with the back of 

 a spade, as to prevent the steam from rising into the bed, 

 which w^ould be extremely detrimental to the crop in a state of 

 vegetation. However, unless the heat is suspected to become 

 too strong, by the dung not being properly prepared previously 

 to forming the bed, this covering will be rather detrimcntid to 

 the heat that is really necessary, by preventing it from rising, 

 and may, in such cases, be dispensed with. The bed thus 

 prepared should be planted with the roots, wliich arc gene- 

 rally taken fi'om the asparagus-bed in the garden, and, as 



