880 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 27, 1893. 
point. The Reaumur is no better, and is now out of use except 
in Russia and some parts of Germany. The most practical gauge 
of temperature is the Centigrade thermometer ; 0° makes _ the 
freezing point, and 100° the boiling. Calculations on the decimal 
system are always easy and satisfactory. A wet bulb thermometer 
is necessary for showing the amount of moisture in the air. 
Forecasts are made 
by comparing the returns of barometrical pressure at the different 
stations, always taking into consideration the climatic conditions. 
We then find out whether or no an area of low pressure—comnaonly 
called a depression or cyclone—is approaching, and bringing with it 
rain and squalls. In the summer a depression brings cold and wet ; 
in the winter, as a rule, it is accompanied by muggy damp weather. 
The winds in this area circulate against the sun. The exact 
opposite ensues when an anti-cyclone arrives on our shores. In the 
winter the dead calm of an anti-cyclone induces fog and frost, but 
in summer it brings heat and clear fine days. In spite of every 
care, however, and the most minute observations, it is not always 
easy to forecast the line that one of the areas—more particularly 
the cyclones—will take. 
“ As cyclones move so fast, we have a very complete system of 
issuing storm warnings. A whole coast can be warned in less than 
an hour. We wire the names of certain centres, and the warning to 
be issued, to the head telegraph office. They send our message to 
the towns indicated, and from them again the warning is flashed to 
all the small stations. Our account with the telegraph department 
is about £2500 a year. From Norway and Sweden messages are 
sent free as far as our shores, then we have to pay. From Russia 
and Turkey we receive reports by letter, as wiring them would be 
too heavy an expense. We have a Government grant of £14,000 a 
year, and about 300 subscribers who receive all the reports that we 
publish. Our reports for the newspapers, which are compiled from 
the telegrams we receive at 6 p.m., are sent to them gratis. 
Weather Records. 
“ All documents received by us relating to the weather are most 
carefully preserved for a long period of years. Weather records 
are in great demand by agriculturists, by makers of charts, and by 
the legal profession. At least four or five times a year we are 
called upon to produce evidence in a court of law concerning 
weather. In Board of Trade cases proofs are often demanded 
from us respecting gales or fogs. Farmers often consult us with 
respect to the past records of their own particular part of the 
country. A man may drain his fields or change the nature of his 
crops on the strength of what he hears from us. We also often 
have inquiries from people who wish to discover a suitable climate 
for invalid friends. Indeed, there are few walks or incidents in 
life in which the weather does not at some time or another play a 
prominent part.” 
The above information is not uninteresting at the present 
time. It represents what is being done with ths aid of the best 
appliances, but these do not enable the authorities to indulge 
in prophetic utterances many hours in advance of expected issues. 
—An Old Gardener. 
ASPARAGUS. 
Planting and Summer Treatment. 
I THINK this delicious edible merits the unenviable distinction 
of being less generally cultivated than any other vegetable which is 
so highly esteemed, and yet so easily grown. There is no valid 
reason why Asparagus should not be as much grown as Green 
Peas, for it is an undoubted fact that during its season it occupies 
the same position on some tables as Peas do a few weeks later. 
But there are tens of thousands who seldom, if ever, taste 
Asparagus, and many more who do not get half enough. When 
we look at these facts in a thoughtful manner the question 
naturally arises. What have been the chief causes which have led 
to this state of affairs ? They may, I think, be traced to com¬ 
plicated methods of culture, and the inherent inclination to plant 
only sparingly those crops which do not give a full return the first 
season. Fortunately, we have now found out that splendid results 
may be obtained by growing Asparagus in a simple and rational 
manner, and that those crops which give the quickest returns are 
not always the most satisfactory or profitable either to the pro¬ 
fessional gardener, the amateur, or the farmer, and each of these 
classes will do well in the future to extend the space devoted to 
Asparagus culture, if a beginning has already been made, or to 
begin at once where it has not yet been attempted. 
The soil best suited to this vegetable is a sandy loam, made 
rich by heavy dressings of well-decayed manure. Soils answering 
to this description abound in many parts of the country, and with 
a fair amount of attention these may be made to produce excellent 
and profitable crops of Asparagus. No time of the year is more 
suitable for planting than during the present month, when growth 
has commenced and the roots are in such a condition as to enable 
them to work at once into the surrounding soil. When very early 
planting is practised the natural result of this is that many of the 
roots die, and others start very weakly. 
Assuming that the ground has been recently trenched or 
double dug and well manured no further preparation will be 
necessary, but if ordinary digging only has been resorted to a little 
extra attention ought to be given before planting. A plan which 
answers admirably is the following. Take out a trench two spits 
wide, lay the soil on a side, then place 6 inches of thoroughly 
decayed manure on the bottom of this trench, and dig another 
spit deep, taking care to thoroughly incorporate the manure with 
the soil as the work proceeds. Part of the top soil should then be 
returned to the trench, and be trodden moderately firm, leaving it 
in the form of a slight ridge along the centre, the top of this ridge 
being about 4 inches below the ground level. In preparing the 
trench for planting on ground which has been manured and deeply 
dug all that is necessary is to take out a trench the width of a 
spade, leaving a slight ridge in the centre, this also being 4 inches 
below the ground level; in either case these trenches will then be 
ready for planting. 
Much diversity of opinion exists among cultivators as to the 
distance apart at which the roots should be set. For ordinary 
purposes I prefer to have the rows 2 feet apart, the plants being 
disposed 18 inches from each other. This admits large well¬ 
growing clumps to develop good growth, without which fine heads 
are not obtainable. Where extra large heads are required for 
exhibition purposes, the clumps should be set 3 feet apart each 
way. August sown Lettuce may be planted thinly between the 
rows. Two-year-old clumps of Asparagus are the best for planting. 
These should be carefully lifted so as to preserve the roots without 
breakage as much as possible. If not planted immediately after 
lifting the roots ought to be covered with damp moss or soil, and 
be given a good soaking with water. It is all-important that this 
point be attended to, for under such conditions the check attendant 
upon transplanting is scarcely perceptible, while if it is neglected, 
partial, if not total failure, will be the result. Before planting a 
line should be stretched along the centre of the ridge, supporting it 
at intervals with forked sticks to keep it clear of the soil, so that 
the crown of the roots may be placed exactly under the line, and 
the roots be spread out on each side. Especial care should be 
taken to spread them out to their full length, so as to enable them 
to work freely among the soil. As the planting proceeds, a little 
of the finer portions of the soil ought to be placed over the roots 
with a trowel. As each row is planted and the line removed, the 
trench should be filled in and the soil made level with a rake, but, 
except in the case of very light soils, treading should not be done. 
A thorough watering through a coarse rose ought then to be given, 
and when the whole is completed, 2 inches of well-rotted manure 
may with advantage be placed over the whole surface of the bed. 
In low damp positions, or on clayey soils, raised beds are 
necessary. These may be formed by taking out the soil to a depth 
of 2 feet and stirring the subsoil to render drainage efficient. 
Over this 9 inches of stubble should be placed, this being covered 
with a layer of rough manure. Large quantities of burnt refuse, 
and a fair amount of manure should then be mixed with the soil 
as it is returned to the bed, bringing it up to 6 inches above the 
ground level before the ridges are formed for the roots. After 
these have been placed in position it is a great advantage to cover 
them with a little soil of a finer nature, such as old potting soil, 
before finishing off with the natural soil. In clayey soils the 
crowns should be covered to a depth of 2 inches only. Beds 5 feet 
in width will accommodate three rows of plants. They should be 
set 18 inches apart in the rows. Alleys 2 feet in width ought to be 
provided between the beds, and a strong stake driven into the 
ground at the corner of each bed. 
Should the weather prove dry water must be regularly supplied 
till the plants are well established. If liquid manure is obtainable 
an occasional application of it may with advantage be given 
throughout the summer months; failing this, nitrate of soda 
applied once a fortnight (in showery weather if possible), at the 
rate of 1^ oz. per square yard, or a moderate sprinkling of salt 
will be found very beneficial. If the young shoots are not cut 
the year after planting, cutting may commence the following 
season ; but it ought not to be very severe till the third year, 
and throughout each growing season high feeding must be the 
order of the day if superior produce is looked for. With these 
essentials well attended to a bed will continue in full bearing half 
a century, so that the slight outlay and waiting for a crop at the 
outset is overwhelmingly repaid. Throughout the growing season 
