ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
439 
not yield enough to pay for its culture ; indeed, it would end in 
complete disappointment if its cultivation were attempted in 
such soils, for one of the main requisites of Asparagus is that it 
should have a good depth of earth, though any soil of good 
ordinary texture, whether good sandy, friable loam, or what is 
generally known as garden soil, properly manured and trenched, 
will suit the plant. Under any circumstances let the land, if 
not naturally so, be made porous by the addition of ashes or 
similar material which may be at hand. Coarse, rough, wet 
land is not suitable for Asparagus. I have known it to be 
grown on such land, but it came very rough, crooked, and 
cankered. 
The ground should be trenched 3 ft. deep with a good heavy 
coating of manure (45 or 50 tons to the acre), well mixed 
with the land. This should be done in the autumn of the year, 
say November or December, and the soil laid up in ridges of 2 or 
8 ft. wide. Before the time of planting it ought to be turned 
over to the depth of 18 to 20 in., thoroughly incorporating 
the manure with the top spit to make it in good tilth for 
spring planting. I have no doubt seaweed is a capital manure ; 
I have heard it very highly spoken of, but have not myself had 
any experience of it. A small quantity of salt, 5 or 6 cwt. 
to the acre applied in two or three dressings, is very good for 
the plant. The salt should not be applied when the plant is at 
rest, but when it is in full growth ; the best time is during the 
months of June and July, or August. If Asparagus is carefully 
and properly planted, it will produce good heads for twenty^ 
thirty, or even forty years, always remembering not to cut any 
after midsummer. 
In my young days there was a large area of land under 
Asparagus culture in close proximity to London, on the south- 
eastern side, in the vicinity of Deptford, New Cross, and 
Lewisham, but this part has been taken possession of by the 
house-builders and railways. It was considered a grand sight 
in those days to see the beds done up, beautifully regular, and 
absolutely neat, the workmen priding themselves as to who 
should complete his task the best. Sometimes the edges of the 
beds were sown with Dwarf French Beans, or Coleworts ; these 
were planted to come in late in the autumn after the cutting of 
the Asparagus was over. 
