348 
THE FLORIST. 
properly applied and mixed with the soil, will enrich it sufficiently for 
growing superior Grass. 
Planting should be done in April, and may be done in May, or even 
June, in rainy weather. Mark on the land lines 18 inches apart, 
running if practicable north and south, or at any rate lengthways on 
the ground; next, with a spade, throw out a shallow trench three or 
four inches deep down the land, and in this place the roots, with their 
crowns upwards and the roots carefully spread out on each side; be 
careful in this, as the plants will grow much the better for this additional 
trouble; the roots should be 12 inches apart, and the person planting 
will cover them in the first trench with the soil he takes out of the 
second, and so on till the whole is completed. The ground should then 
be lightly trod over, and covered a couple of inches thick with any half 
decayed litter for a mulching ; this is more especially necessary when 
the planting is delayed till a late period. Nothing further than mere 
routine of cleaning is required the first season. As the stalks decay in 
the autumn cut them down, and throw over the ground any old manure 
you may have. In March fork the ground very lightly over, so as not 
to injure the surface roots, and mulch again with the same material as 
named above if you can afford it, though it is not absolutely necessary. 
About August of the second season, a dressing of salt throwu over the 
beds on a rainy day will help the crop very much; it keeps the soil 
moist and cool during the heats prevalent at that season, and assists 
besides as a manure of the first class, which from its soluble nature is 
readily assimilated by the plants. 
The following winter every other row should be removed ; they will 
now be fine crowns for forcing, and produce heads of a large size ; this 
will leave the rows at three feet apart, at which distance they will 
attain their greatest perfection. I never make them into what are 
called beds, where the tops of the roots are covered a foot or more each 
season, to blanch them, a practice at once absurd and contrary to the 
habit of the plant. When the extra row is removed a slight ridge of 
earth is drawn over the permanent row about a foot in width, in March 
of each year, and the space between the rows is filled with litter, which 
may be any kind of manure, sweepings of lawns, or even tree leaves 
partly decayed; it will serve to keep the surface of the bed moist 
during summer, and come in in its turn for pricking in during winter 
and drawing over the roots in March, as detailed above. In cutting 
the Grass the man walks between the rows, as by this plan the beds 
are all on a level, and the depth of soil above the crown of the roots is 
rarely above four or five inches, which I consider quite enough for 
every purpose of cultivation. 
I do not have the Grass cut until it has grown to something like three 
or four inches above the soil, though it should be watched that it does 
not break, that is, show indications of opening, which would spoil its 
appearance at table. All the Grass— i.e. small and great—must be cut 
at the same time; for allowing the small shoots to grow and develop 
themselves will prevent many large heads from rising. Asparagus may 
be had in tolerable perfection for ten months in the year by manage¬ 
ment. To ensure a succession, allow a bed or two to remain uncut till 
