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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should have a fine example from their own ground are compelled 

 to purchase when creditable Asparagus must be seen on the 

 table. As the plant contains a considerable proportion of the 

 salts of lime, calcareous matters should always be secured for 

 its service, except when the soil is naturally furnished with such 

 substances. 



Having made mention of the production of table Asparagus 

 in autumn, it will be expected that I should devote at least a 

 few words to that part of the subject. By the ordinary course 

 of cultivation an autumn supply is not to be hoped for, but it 

 will occur in a w r arm moist autumn, and may be regarded in a 

 general way as an accident of not much consequence. I have 

 said that during many long years it was of the utmost 

 importance to me to have a continuous supply of Asparagus, and 

 any hiatus was in the nature of a disaster. The very conserva- 

 tive system I followed of never cutting more than was wanted, 

 while having a considerable breadth of plant to cut from as 

 compared with actual quantity required — this very conservative 

 system made me often rich in autumnal supplies, and it was just 

 a question when frost would bring it to a stop, for, so long as 

 growing weather continued, I generally could ensure respectable 

 Asparagus until about the 8th of October, even on the cold clayofthe 

 valley of the Lea. But where severe cutting in spring is practised 

 an autumnal supply should not be looked for, and perhaps in a 

 majority of gardens it is not wanted. But for the information of 

 any to whom a late supply might be of advantage, I will say 

 that the surest way to obtain it is to set apart a bed in a 

 sheltered position, and to abstain from cutting a single stick 

 therefrom until the days begin to shorten. It will make an 

 early and vigorous growth, and the straws will ripen early and 

 the plant will take a rest in July. Then it may be persuaded 

 into a new growth by irrigation, and some handsome table grass 

 may be secured, and will be found to harmonise with grouse and 

 partridges perfectly. 



The samples of table grass before you are such as in spring 

 would be considered of fair average quality. They may be 

 described as 0 to 0 inches long, and 1| inch in circum- 

 ference, with a fine length of tender green meat for the 

 lover of what is called " English " Asparagus. On the grave 

 question of the superiority of white or green grass, I have 



