Market Gardening in the Vale of Evesham. 97 
but occasionally it is seen in narrow beds containing two rows, 
with a wide path or trench between. No special preparation 
of the soil is made, or required, for this crop. Sometimes the 
seed is sowed where the plants are to remain ; by this 
procedure some time is saved, but there is a consequent 
variation in the strength of the plants, and the size and quality 
of the asparagus produced. It is better to sow the seed in 
a bed, very thinly, in April, and to plant it out in the April of 
the following year, selecting the best plants only for propagation. 
The subsequent cultivation mainly consists of manuring, 
earthing-up, cutting, and re-earthing during the season of 
cutting, weeding, diligently searching for the asparagus beetle 
(neglect of this being a frequent cause of failure), cutting 
down the stems in November, and levelling the ridges. 
Cabbage, though equal in area, is seldom of the same value 
per acre. The seed for this crop is sowed on beds in July. 
The young plants are planted out in September, and sometimes 
in October, in rows about 15 in. apart, and about 12 in. from 
plant to plant in the rows. They are frequently hoed, and in 
January and February dressing with fertilisers commences. 
The stimulants and hoeings promote early growth, and nice 
young cabbages are ready for cutting some time in March. 
Marrows. — Sometimes these are raised from seed sowed in 
pots and placed in artificial heat in a greenhouse, frame, or 
hotbed ; but more usually the seed is sowed where the plants 
are to grow and fruit. In the latter case holes are made at 
certain distances apart — the distances depending on whether 
the ordinary rambling plant be grown, or whether they be 
“ bush ” marrows, the latter being compact plants, about 4 ft. 
across, and very fruitful ; a forkful of manure is placed in the 
holes, the soil returned, a ring of metal 3 in. or 4 in. in depth, 
and about 12 in. in diameter is placed thereon, three or four 
seeds are sowed, and a disc of glass placed over the ring. This 
is done about the end of April. Some covering is required on 
cold and frosty nights, and various materials are used for the 
purpose ; particularly is this protection from cold required 
when the seedlings are through the soil. With the warmer 
days and nights of June, the glass is entirely removed, and 
the marrow plants fully exposed. 
Early Peas are usually sowed in January, in rows 18 in. to 
24 in. apart, on sheltered plots and protected borders. Sticks 
are seldom used, dwarf varieties only being grown. Harrison’s 
“ Eclipse,” “ William Hurst,” “ Daisy,” and “ Senator,” being 
the varieties most favoured. 
Lettuce. — A hardy variety of cabbage lettuce named 
“ Schofield ” is the variety mainly cultivated. The seed is 
sowed early in August, and at the end of September strong plants 
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