204 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



by Colonel Smyth in Garhwal, North- West India, in 1865, and seed was 

 sent home by him and raised in Lincolnshire, where it grows to a height 

 of 12 ft. or 14 ft. " in the gardens and woods," being very hardy and 

 spreading rapidly. — G. S. S. 



Asparagus Beds. By A. Petts (Gard. Chron. p. 41 ; 19/1/1901). 

 ---Describing how to make the beds and how to plant them. — G. S. S. 



Asparagus Cookery. By H. Roberts {Gard. Mag. 2478, p. 258 ; 

 27/4/1901). — This subject, which is as important as the cultm-e of Aspara- 

 gus, is dealt with by the writer in detail, and describes many ways of dealing 

 with Asparagus in the kitchen beyond the usual "plain boiled" way. 



W. G. 



Asparagus Culture. By John J. T. Norfolk (Joioii. Pi.A.S. 

 vol. Ixi. (1900), pp. 616-G52). — For field culture a " thoroughly good deep 

 yellow loam, well drained, and with a warm subsoil," is recommended, 

 and the situation should be quite open to the south. The land should be 

 prepared in the autumn, and stirred to a depth of at least two feet. The 

 varieties recommended are 'Reading Giant' and ' Connover's Colossal.' 

 " Planting may be done either by sowing the seed where it is to remain, 

 or by using plants which have been raised elsewhere. If seed is employed, 

 from the middle to the end of March would be the right time to sow ; and 

 if plants are used, the first week in April would be suitable, as the plants 

 are much more likely to do well when they are beginning to grow than 

 when they are dormant. Autumn planting should never be practised." The 

 subsequent treatment is given in some detail, and when seed has been sown 

 in wide drills it is permissible to plant short-topped varieties of Potatos be- 

 tween the rows for the first two years. For the garden the cultivation should 

 be the same as for the field, the beds to be 42 inches wide and 5 feet apart. 

 Three rows of plants should go to each bed, and there should be 9 inches 

 between them and 1 foot between the plants in the rows. The beds should 

 never be trodden upon, and cutting should always cease by the third week 

 in June. For forcing, four-year-old roots which have not been previously 

 cut from should be selected : these should be placed on a well-drained 

 bottom and covered with three inches of fine soil. " Keep a bottom and 

 air temperature of 65°," which should not be exceeded. Time about six 

 weeks. To ensure a succession, put in fresh batches of roots every fort- 

 night or three weeks. — B. N. 



Asparagus Miner, American (Amer. Gard. xxii. 330, pp. 288, 



289 ; fig. 62 ; 20/4/1901).— Discovered in 1896 by Mr. F. A. Sirrine on 

 Long Island, N.Y. This pest is quite distinct from the European 

 Asparagus fly. — C. C. H. 



Asparagus Rust. Anon. (Gard. Mag. 2466, p. 63; 2/2/1901). 



— An account of the Asparagus Rust (Puccinia asjxiragi), a parasitic 

 fungus well known in this country as infesting the Asparagus plants, and 

 which has recently made its appearance in America. The suggestions for 



