BISCAYAN MODE OF CULTIVATING ASPARAGUS, ETC. 
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BISCAYAN MODE OF CULTIVATING- ASPARAGUS. 
The Biscayan ipiode of cultivating asparagus, 
as detailed in the Gardeners' Chronicle, is to form 
beds about 5 feet in width, and of any conve- 
nient length, and to sow the seed in March in two 
drills, 2 inches in depth, and 18 inches from the 
alleys ; thus leaving a space of 2 feet between 
the drills. When the seedlings are about 6 in. 
in height, they are thinned to something more 
than a foot apart. Water is conducted once a- 
day among the alleys and over the beds, so as 
to give these seedlings an abundant and constant 
supply of fluid during the season of their growth. 
This is the cultivation during the first year. 
The second year, in March, the beds are cov- 
ered 3 or 4 inches in thickness with town sewer- 
age, which remains on them during the summer, 
and which is lightly dug in during the succeed- 
ing autumn ; the irrigation being continued as 
during the first season. In the third spring after 
sowing, the asparagus is fit for cutting, all its 
energies being doubtless developed by the 
manure being dug in, the autumn of the 
second year ; and when it does begin to sprout, 
it finds its roots in contact with soil of inexhaust- 
ible fertility. Previously, however, to the cut- 
ting, each bed is covered, in March, very lightly 
with dead leaves, to the depth of about 8 inches. 
The cutting does not commence till the plants 
peep through this covering, when it is carefully 
removed from the stems, in order that the finest 
only may be cut, which are rendered white by the 
leafy covering, and succulent by the excessive 
richness of the soil. 
In the autumn of the third year after the first 
cutting, the leaves are removed, and the beds 
are again dressed with town sewerage, and these 
operations are repeated annually. In addition 
to this, the asparagus ground is so situated that 
the beds are half under salt water at spring 
tides. 
PROFITABLE FARMING. 
Among a thousand instances of successful farm- 
ing that might be named, is that of Mr. C. P. 
Holcomb, of Newcastle, who purchased about 
320 acres of land, three miles from Dover, some 
seven years ago, for $2,400. Mr. Holcomb's 
farmer says, that when he took possession 
of the place, he could not find hay or straw 
enough upon it to make a hen's nest, but 
had to resort to the old field to gather poverty 
grass for that purpose. 
This place had been carried on by hired 
labor, the owner living upon another farm, 
some 30 miles off. And yet, by a judicious 
expenditure for lime, and proper system of crops, 
the value of it has been raised to $6,000, besides 
paying all expenses, and leaving a surplus of 
profits. It is now in a condition to continue to 
be profitable ; and yet the former owner could 
not support his family upon the place. If you 
would know the reason, it is this — he cultivated 
the land just as his father did before him ; with 
a little, mean, one-horse plow, with which he 
scratched the surface about two inches deep, or 
less, and planted corn after corn, without manure 
(for how could he make manure with such farm- 
ing ?) until he had skinned everything off the 
surface, and really thought that the land was 
" worn out." The present owner has been well 
known as a Philadelphia lawyer — perhaps it was 
his legal skill that enabled him to " take the kinks 
out" of this knotty case. 
EATING HORSE MANURE. 
C. D. M., of Pennsylvania, asks what is the 
best remedy to prevent horned cattle from eat- 
ing horse manure ; and what it is that induces 
them to eat it? 
We think there are several reasons why cattle 
and sheep eat horse manure. First, hunger. 
Second, the salts with which it is impregnated. 
This would be remedied by giving them salt, 
ashes, sulphur, &c. Third, the horse imperfect- 
ly digests much of his food, and just that part 
which his stomach has omitted to fit for appro- 
priation in his system, is thrown out in his feces, 
and is probably better fitted for the horned beast 
or sheep. 
Every person of observation has noted the 
successive cropping of various plants, yielded in 
an old pasture. One class of these is eaten by 
the horse, another by cattle, and still a more 
numerous variety by sheep. The same prefer- 
ences are manifested by them for the forage when 
cured ; and the animal taste is a tolerably cor- 
rect index of what is best suited to their consti- 
tutional wants, which vary according to the sea- 
son, habits, food, health, and other circumstances. 
If the cattle have all the condiments, (salt, &c.,) 
they require, and an abundance of good and ap- 
propriate food, we think they may be permitted to 
nibble at the heap of horse manure with entire 
impunity. 
GEORGIA FARMING. 
The present year, I concluded to plant less 
cotton and cultivate it better ; so, instead of 260 
acres, as usual, I only cultivated 120. I find, 
now, I have done much better than I ever did 
before ; for I have made 25 bales more cotton, 
this year, on the 120 acres, than formerly on the 
260 acres. 
In addition to this, I have the greatest plenty 
of corn, and have now over 1,000 bushels of 
sweet potatoes left, after feeding my hogs on 
them for the last two months. J. B. 
Hancock Co., Ga., Dec. 29th, 1849. 
Improvement in Sugar Making in the Island of 
Cuba. — By the Havana papers, we learn that 
several planters on the island have recently made 
experiments with the bi-sulphate of lime, recom- 
mended by Mr. Melsens in the improvement of 
sugar making. They were in all cases most 
satisfactory. The " Faro " says that Mr. M has 
established a well-founded claim on the gratitude 
of the Cuban planters, by his disinterestedness 
in making known his modus operandi, and suggests 
that a gratuity of $100,000 be awarded him by 
subscription — or rather hogsheads of sugar to that 
amount, prepared according to his invention. 
