DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
11 
to two inches deep, and eighteen inches from drill to drill. 
The ground should be a rich sandy loam, -well pulverized and 
manured. In the course of the season, the young plants 
should be frequently hoed and kept free from weeds. In 
regions subject to severe frosts, the roots should be protected 
in winter with a covering of litter, to be applied late in the 
fall. ; 
The ground for an asparagus bed can scarcely be made too 
rich. It should be spaded or trenched at least two spades 
deep, and thoroughly intermixed with half-rotted manure. 
From twenty-five to thirty pounds of common"salt should be 
applied to each square rod of ground, well incorporated in the 
soil .to a depth of four or five inches. The beds may then 
be formed, and planted as directed above, and during the 
second summer, no further care will be required than keeping 
the plants clear of weeds. The following winter, if the climate 
requires it, cover them with rotten manure to a depth of three 
or four inches, to protect the crowns from frost. The first 
two years, the plants may be allowed to run up to stalks, in 
order that vigorous crowns may be formed for the succeeding 
crop. 
After the third year, the stalks should be annually cut down 
quite to the ground, late in the autumn, where the climate Jh 
severe, and a dressing of well-rotted manure spread over the 
roots to the depth of three inches, with the double object of 
protecting them from frost, and for fertilizing the soil. As 
soon as the ground opens in the spring, the covering of manure 
should be forked or spaded in, to a depth of three or four 
inches, tiiking due care not to wound the crown of the roots. 
Then evenly level the surface of the beds with a rake, and a 
full crop may be expected to rise. As soon as the shoots 
reach three or four inches above the ground, scrape away a 
little earth, and cut them off in a slanting direction, about three 
inches below the surface, taking care not to wound the ad- 
vancing buds. Do not extend the cutting beyond tho month 
of May. 
