ASPARAGUS CULTUEE. 



509 



" Common vegetables_, such as late Potatoes^ Cabbages, 

 ought not to be planted on the ridges of beds, which, 

 however, may be made useful (but only during the first 

 years) by growing on them early Potatoes, Lentils, Kidney 

 Beans, Salads, and such other vegetables as are of little 

 inconvenience from their dimensions. In the month of 

 October, during fine and dry weather, the small stalks of 

 the Asparagus are to be cut ofi" at six inches above the 

 ground. The ground is to be lightly cleaned, and the 

 shelving beds must be dug up to a depth of twelve inches, 

 maintaining their conical shape. The Asparagus is to be 

 lightly covered with manure, the plants being laid bare with 

 a flat hoe, for a diameter of eight inches, and up to the 

 crowns. Proper care ought to be taken not to injure the 

 roots with the implement. On each plant lay one or two 

 handfuls of good manure, free from all noxious substances. 

 While spreading the manure, mark out with a small stick 

 the site of the plants which have failed during the course 

 of the year ; these must be renewed in the month of March 

 following. The manure is at once to be covered over 

 with about three inches of the best mellow earth at hand, 

 and over the plants is to be made a small conical hillock 

 about two inches high. This operation is the last to be 

 performed for the year. 



Second Year. — In March or April begin by replacing 

 the plants which have failed in the preceding year, selecting 

 vigorous plants a year old, and setting them in the same 

 manner as recommended for the first year. Stakes are to 

 be placed near the foot of each plant, always at an angle of 

 45°. In the beginning of April a cleaning is to be made 

 on the shelving beds and on the grounds ; it will be well to 

 perform this operation the day after a sprinkling of rain, in 

 order the more easily to break the clods. As soon as the 

 Asparagus stems become firm, fasten them to the stakes, in 

 order to protect them against the wind, which might break 

 them. In the month of October the dry stalks are to be 

 cut ofi' at eight inches above the ground ; the shelving beds 

 are to be turned up, always lightly hollowing out the 

 trenches. Manure is to be spread on the shelving beds. 



