THE CULTIVATOR 
87 
Darien anir ©rcljarb. 
ASPARAGUS. 
It is not often that military men find time to pay atten¬ 
tion to horticulture and ganlening, but we find that Capt. 
Churchill, of the British Royal Marines, is an exception, 
since in an interesting paper to the London Hort. Socie¬ 
ty he has given an account of some observations made 
by him at St. Sebastian, in Spain, while the English army 
held that place during the late troubles in that country. 
The Guipuscoan asparagus, produced at St. Sebastians, 
has long been celebrated, and it was to the cultivation 
of this that his attention was principally directed. It 
has been generally supposed that the Sebastian aspara¬ 
gus, which is from three to six or more inches in circum¬ 
ference, was a distinct variety; but Prof. Lindley says 
there is but one sort of asparagus, and the observations 
of Capt. Churchill prove his correctness. We copy that 
part of the paper that describes the culture, as from it 
we think the asparagus growers of this country may de¬ 
rive some useful hints; 
“ Asparagus is a plant found naturally on the beach of 
various parts of the coast of Europe, where it is covered 
the drifting sand, and watered by salt water at high 
tides. Sand and salt water occasionally may, therefore, 
be regarded as indispensable conditions for maintaining 
it in health. How seldom is this thought of! It, how¬ 
ever, in part explains the excellence of St. Sebastian as¬ 
paragus. It seems that at the mouth of the Urumea, is 
a narrow slip of land about three feet above high water 
mark, consisting of alluvial soil, and the wearing away 
of sandstone hills at whose foot it is placed. This is the 
asparagus ground of St. Sebastians. Beds are here 
formed without any previous preparation, except dig¬ 
ging and raking. In March the seed is sown in drills 
about two inches deep, and eighteen inches from the 
alleys, thus leaving a space of two feet between the 
drills. The rows run invariably east and west; doubt¬ 
less that the plants may shade the ground during the 
heats of summer. When the seedlings are about six 
inches high, 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 the month of March, the beds 
are covered with three or four inches of fresh night soil 
from the reservoirs of the town; it remains on them 
during the summer, and is lightly dug in during the en¬ 
suing autumn; the operation of irrigation being conti¬ 
nued as during the first season. This excessive stimu¬ 
lus, and the abundant room the plants have to grow in, 
must necessarily make them extremely vigorous, and 
prepare them for the production of such gigantic sprouts 
as they yield. 
“ In the third spring the asparagus is fit to cut. Doubt¬ 
less all its energies are developed by the digging in of 
the manure in the autumn of the second year, and when 
its does begin sprout, it finds its roots in contact with a 
soil of inexhaustible fertility. Previously to the cut¬ 
ting, however, each bed is covered in the course of 
March, very lightly with dead leaves, to the depth of 
about eight inches; and the cutting does not commence 
till the plants peep through this covering, when it is 
carefully removed from the stems, that the finest only may 
be cut, which are rendered white by their leafy covering, 
and succulent by the exceeding 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 
fresh night soil as before; and these operations are re¬ 
peated year after year. In addition to this, the beds are 
half under salt water, annually, at high tides.” 
It appears clear from this statement of Capt. Church¬ 
ill, that the excellence of the St. Sebastian asparagus is 
not owing to its being a new variety, but to the peculiar 
treatment it receives. Every one knows that much the 
larger portion of the asparagus grown in this country, or 
offered in our markets, is miserable stuff; dark colored and 
tough, and only occasionally showing what this delicious 
vegetable might be under proper cultivation. The Span¬ 
iards combine sand, salt, irrigation, and the most active 
of manures, in the growth of their gigantic shoots. We 
seem to think it will grow any where, and under any 
treatment. Should any object to such a liberal use of 
fresh night soil, it might be obviated by the substitution 
of poudrette and rich composts. Of all soils for aspara¬ 
gus a clay soil is the worst, and its character must be 
changed before the growing of this vegetable should be 
attempted. There is a very large portion of the lands 
in the vicinity of New-York suitable for asparagus, and 
in thousands of instances they might be placed so as to 
reap the advantages of salt water, as is done at St. Se¬ 
bastians. Manure, also, of the best kind, maybe readily 
obtained, to give the beds any desirable degree of rich¬ 
ness. If we would retain any plant in perfect health 
and vigor, it must be allowed its natural habits as far as 
possible. In such a situation, cultivation and manures 
add to its size, and render it tender and succulent. As¬ 
paragus requires a large quantity of water to perfect its 
growth, as indeed do all plants, when rapidity of growth 
is desirable. In the wet climate of England watering 
IS found necessary, and in our hot and dry seasons, ir¬ 
rigation would seem indispensable. We hope some 
of our Long-Island or New-Jersey friends, who have 
the means, will test the St. Sebastian mode of culture, 
and if successful, as we have no doubt they would be, 
they would deserve and receive the thanks of all aspa¬ 
ragus eaters. 
THE GRAPE IN MISSISSIPPI. 
Most of our readers are aware that Mr. Affleck, the 
former talented editor of the Western Parmer and Gar¬ 
dener of Cincinnati, has left that paper, and become a 
resident of the state of Mississippi, bright eyes and 
broad lands being, as we understand, the cause thereunto 
moving. But old associations and feelings have, we are 
glad to perceive, not lost their influence; and a Report, 
made to the Horticultural Society of Jefferson College, 
last autumn, which we find in the Natchez Free Trader, 
from his pen, proves that he is destined, in his new lo¬ 
cation, to exercise a favorable action on the agriculture 
and horticulture ot that district. The Report to which 
we have alluded is based on the visits of a committee of 
which Mr. Affleck was chairman, to the gardens in 
Natchez and its vicinity; and a most inviting display of 
fruit and flowers does it present to us. In truth, Natchez 
and its environs must be the Eschol of the southwest, so 
far as the grape is concerned. After noticing several 
varieties of the grape found there, the Report says:— 
“ Of this, the Jack grape, the most valuable variety we 
have, there is an astonishing crop upon a single vine, at 
the residence of the Rev. James Carron, in Natchez— 
upwards of 2,000 bunches, almost all large and perfect. 
The vine is now supposed to be about eleven years old; 
its stem measures four inches in diameter, and its branch¬ 
es cover a space of four hundred and fifty square feet, 
being trained over head in his court-yard, at the height 
of about eight feet. This grape has been sadly over¬ 
looked, for the reason that it acquires its dark color 
some weeks before it is ripe, and when gathered at that 
time, its sourness renders it by no means palatable. But 
if allowed to hang on the vine until fully ripe, it not 
only proves itself to be a delicious and highly flavored 
table grape, but it is the opinion of this committee that 
it will be found valuable for wine-making.” 
In connection with this subject of grapes, we may 
mention that while at the north training on trellises, 
north and south, so as to give the greatest exposure to 
the sun, is found preferable to arbor training, the latter 
course is found most successful at the south, where the 
extreme and long continued heat renders protection ra¬ 
ther than exposure desirable for this fine fruit. Of this, 
an instance is given in a late number of the Columbia 
Register of Agriculture, in which grapes trained on 
trellis work, north and south, always rotted from forced 
maturity; while the same variety, we think, trained on 
arbors or trees, and of course receiving protection, were 
of the best quality, and perfectly free from rot. 
We think there is not sufficient attention paid to the 
culture of the grape among the farmers at the north, 
as they are easily cultivated, and the fruit is not only 
delicious but healthy, and forms one of the most in¬ 
viting and best relished of the table fruits. It is true, 
none but the hardy kinds could be grown, and on some 
soils, and in some locations even, these could hardly 
succeed; but in most cases, where a vine can be trained 
against a wall or building, grapes will be produced in 
any part of the northern states. We strongly advise 
every farmer to procure a few plants or cuttings, of 
kinds known to be hardy, and make an experiment for 
himself. The trouble or expense will be trifling; the 
reward, if successful, will be abundant. 
TRANSPLANTING TREES. 
The farmer who allows a single season to pass with¬ 
out planting out trees, either for fruit, ornament, timber, 
or fuel, or perhaps for all these purposes, certainly mis¬ 
takes his true interest. Every tree that is properly 
planted, adds to the value of the farm, since there are 
few of them that do not answer good purposes in various 
ways; and they certainly add much to the beauty of every 
place. There is no one who does not like the looks of 
a farm where the avenues are bordered with trees, and 
the yards properly' planted and arranged with trees, 
shrubbery, &c. It takes but a few years for the maple, 
locust, elm, or ash, to grow up into valuable timber 
trees, and on most farms how many vacant nooks are to 
be found which might be filled up by these to advantage. 
How many families there are, where the parents, or the 
children, beg or steal all the fruit they have, who have 
land enough, (could they only muster a little energy to 
plant trees,) to furnish all the fruit they need for the 
year? How many of our farmer’s houses stand naked 
and desolate, not a tree for fruit or shade near them? 
We have often wished that our farmers generally could 
read Mr. Downing’s work on the subject of ornamental 
and other planting, as we are confident it could scarcely 
fail to produce a beneficial effect in the correction of 
these evils. It takes time to plant trees, it is true, and 
what improvement is made for which time is not requir¬ 
ed; and let it be remembered, that the man who hus¬ 
bands his time, who performs every thing when it should 
be done, always has his time at command, and will ma¬ 
nage to accomplish thrice as much, as he who is forever 
an hour behind his time. Plant trees, then, every year. 
Fill up all vacancies in your woodlands; see that your 
highways are not forgotten; remember that a screen of 
evergreens is required by orchards and fruit gardens in 
all exposed situations; i)lant shrubbery and trees in your 
yards; and don’t forget your fruit. If your fruit trees 
are well selected, there is no necessity of great numbers 
to furnish a succession of good fruit at all seasons. Ne¬ 
ver be content with any thing short of the best. One 
word as to planting the streets of our cities and villages. 
More failures are witnessed in these places than any 
where else; and although the cause is very obvious, it is 
rare that any efforts are made (o obviate it. Grading and 
leveling in these places, in most instances, makes the 
surface of new earth, that which has never been exposed 
to atmospheric influences, or mixed with vegetable mat¬ 
ter, and is consequently wholly unfit to nourish trees. 
Where planting is required in such caees, the holes for 
the trees should be made broad, and filled in with good 
mold; and if the soil is retentive, drains should be Cut 
to prevent these holes from being constantly filled with 
stagnant water. Evergreens should be planted later in 
the season than other trees; June or July will do; though 
when proper precautions are taken, they may be remov¬ 
ed at almost any season. The roots of trees should never 
dry during the process of transplanting; nor should they 
be cramped or mutilated, when it can possibly be avoided. 
THE PEACH TREE. 
The conclusion to which our correspondent, “ J. H.” 
of Preston, Conn, has arrived, in accounting for the fact 
that the seed of a particular fruit will in some instances 
produce fruit like that of the parent tree, and in others, 
entirely different, is undoubtedly correct, viz:—“ that 
the flowers of one tree are impregnated by the pollen 
of others, thereby producing all manner of fruit; but 
where a tree is isolated, so that no such union takes 
place, the fruit will resemble the original.” 
J. H. further says;—‘‘ A. R. McCord is informed that 
ashes placed around the bodies of trees in the spring, 
will effectually protect them from the ants, besides aid¬ 
ing materially their growth. Soft soap, reduced to the 
proper consistence, and applied with a brush, will im¬ 
part to all trees a fine healthy appearance. It will also 
destroy the Aphis, or tree louse. A dark green foliage, 
free from curls, indicates health in the peach, without 
which, good fruit cannot be expected.” 
Apples at the South.— In a late number of the 
Farmers’ Monthly Visitor, are some remarks on the cul¬ 
ture of the apple in the vicinity of Mobile. It appears 
that apple trees grow with great rapidity in that climate. 
In five or six years, the small trees brought from New 
England, had become large, and the Russetts, the Green¬ 
ings, the Pippins, &c. which in Massachusetts hardly at¬ 
tain their full growth before winter, at Mobile, ripened 
in August and September, on the trees. The ripening 
was in succession; the fruit most exposed to the sun and 
air, first reaching maturity, and are gathered and sold as 
they ripen. So superior is the flavor, size and excel¬ 
lence of these apples ripened on the tree, that they can 
scarcely be identified with the same kinds of northern 
growth. For a number of years, the little orchard of 
the informant averaged him a return equal to fifty dollars 
a tree. This rapid maturity, however, is followed with 
as rapid decay; and the place of the failing trees had to 
be filled with other importations from the north. This 
effect of climate was not less striking on vegetables, such 
as the potatoe, beet, carrot, &c. The seeds of these he 
imported every year from the north; and for the first 
crop they surpassed in siie and quality the northern ori¬ 
ginals; but degeneracy followed seeds produced from 
roots grown at the south. 
Jllomeatic ^Ltonoing. 
LARD LAMPS. 
I wls pleased on seeing the notice of lard lamps in 
the March number of the Cultivator. It is plain that if 
lard can be conveniently burned, it is much better than 
to burn stearine and the oil separately, as the expense of 
separating them is avoided. I have used lard lamps for 
more than a month, and decidedly prefer their light to 
any other. Instead of using glass lamps, however, I 
have used Neal’s patent tin ones, which are preferable 
to the former in not being easily upset, and incapable 
of being broken, at the same time that they are more 
readily filled. 
According to the experiments which I have made, 
sixty-five pounds of lard will supply two lamps in con¬ 
stant use f^or four hours in each twenty-four, the year 
through, and each give as much light as a common 
spermaceti candle. This amount, at present prices, could 
be afforded for four dollars; wnile I have generally 
paid from ten to twelve dollars a year for the same light 
from whale oil. The advantages which the lard lamps 
have over common candles, are, the light is clearer, 
they need no snuffing, and they are cheaper; while the 
trouble of filling them is no more than that of cleaning 
candlesticks. They have none of the unpleasant odor 
of oil lamps; unlike them, they do not soil the fingers 
with oil, as the latter often do; and are attended with 
less than half the expense. 
Without wishing any evil to our New-Bedford and 
Nantucket friends, I would ask, how many dollars 
would be saved in this country, if each family now 
using oil should save its five dollars a year by substitut¬ 
ing lard? And what would be the benefit to the pork 
raisers? The sum, I think, would be counted by at least 
hundreds of thousands. J. J. T. 
FARM EMBELLISHMENT—BUILDINGS, FENCES. 
There are comparatively few of our farmers who 
could afford to be at any considerable expense for rural 
