Olf) Tlir: PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Jan. 



If the heat shouUl not come freely, keep the glasses shut down, 

 until it rise and the buds begin to vegetate ; after which air 

 sliould be admitted as freely as possible, and, after the buds 

 begin to appear above ground, if the weather will permit, they 

 should be removed for as long a time as possible each day, or 

 as much air given, in less favorable weather, as can be done 

 without injuring the shoots with frost, in order to give both 

 color and flavor, as well as strength to the shoots ; if this be 

 jiot attended to, the shoots will be drawn up weakly, without 

 color or flavor. 



On the continent, attempts have been made to blanch the 

 shoots of asparagus, to render them more dehcate. Sliould 

 this be desirable, the lights may be shaded with mats or other 

 means, to give the desired eflect ; but with us, the better they 

 are colored at this season, the more they are held in esteem. 

 When the buds are sufficiently grown to be fit for use, they 

 are to be gathered as recommended for gathering this crop in 

 the open air, using every caution not to injure the buds still 

 under ground. The mould should be cleared away with the 

 finger or knife, and the shoot cut out near its bottom, and the 

 mould replaced. It is seldom that asparagus, while forcing in 

 dung-beds, requires much water, the natural moisture of the 

 steam will be found nearly sufficient. Should the bed appear 

 dry, however, a slight watering may be given with a fine-rose 

 watjerpot, the water being brought to a temperature nearly 

 equal to that of the air in the bed. When the bed heats vio- 

 lently, a copious watering should be given and repeated, to 

 prevent the roots from being scorched with the heat. 



If the temperature of the ]ied during the night keep to 50°, 

 and throughout the day, by the addition of sun-heat, to G0°, 

 the heat will be perfectly sufficient; when, however, it fulls 

 below 48°, and from that to 45°, linings must be applied. 

 Asparagus will grow in a temperature of some degrees higher, 

 but unless forced to accelerate the crop, for the purpose of 

 answering the demand on a particular day, it will be more 

 advisable to keep to the temperature of from 50° to 60*^ 

 during the whole process. 



Asparagus is successfully cultivated during winter in pits 

 heated by steam, fire, or hot water, made to circulate in 



