60 
THE FLORIST. 
and be careful not to lay the shoots in too thickly, if healthy trees and 
fine fruit are desired. 
Standard and bush Cherry trees require but little pruning after the 
tree is formed, further than stopping the terminal shoots to keep them 
within bounds. The branches should be regulated and thinned when 
the trees are young, so as to obviate the necessity of removing large 
branches in after years, the Cherry being very subject to injury from 
large wounds. 
The Cherry has but few enemies in the way of insects, with the 
exception of the black-fly, which, at times, is a troublesome pest, and 
should be narrowly watched and destroyed as soon as they make their 
appearance, for their increase is so rapid, that a day would swell their 
numbers ten-fold ; nothing is better for destroying them than a wash of 
soft-soap and tobacco water, for which directions for making will be 
given in a future chapter. 
(To be continued.) 
ASPARAGUS FORCING. 
The forcing of Asparagus by annually transferring a quantity of roots 
to prepared pits is, perhaps, with few exceptions, the system generally 
practised to obtain this desirable vegetable during the winter months. 
Where land, labour, and pits are plentiful it is not, perhaps, altogether to 
be condemned, for by this practice most excellent “ Grass” is obtainable. 
Garden operations are, however, generally viewei more or less with 
regard to economy. Where this is the case it will be found in most 
instances that the winter dish of Asparagus is one of the most expensive 
at that season. In the first instance the roots must be preparing for 
at least two years, and where a regular supply is required a large 
number of roots is thus annually sacrificed, and a considerable space 
of land occupied for the purpose of a continual supply. The preparation 
of land for Asparagus, where not naturally good, incurs considerable 
expense, and this, perhaps, is the greatest difficulty, and objection to 
the system. Feeling that I have nothing new to communicate—though 
not so generally known as it deserves—I will merely state a few facts 
which the present season has brought under my notice. In August 
last some beds were pointed out to me as having yielded a winter’s 
supply for from seven to ten years. The summer’s growth has been 
good for so old plants, and I thought at least they might give a scanty 
supply for another season. As there were no roots to spare from the 
general stock the only expedient was to give them a trial. Accordingly, 
about the middle of November, the linings were emptied of the decayed 
leaves, &c., used last season for forcing, and refilled with fresh leaves 
and stable-litter. The surface of the beds was forked over, and leaf- 
soil applied to the surface to the depth of three inches. A week later 
the glass was placed over the beds. In a fortnight afterwards I was 
somewhat surprised to see the “Grass” making its appearance. I have 
