402 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
material directly forcing ceases, but keep the 
beds littered over till all danger from severe 
frosts is passed. These forced beds should also 
be very liberally treated as regards manuring, 
abundant supplies of liquid manure during the 
growing season doing excellent service. 
Forcing Removed Plants. —As yet there are 
few places where Asparagus in permanently 
planted beds is forced, the more convenient 
practice of lifting and forcing plants prevailing. 
Nor do many growers prepare a stock of plants 
specially for forcing, probably because this can¬ 
not well be done under two or three years. 
Those, however, with plenty of garden room 
would do well to prepare a few thousand plants 
for forcing, as the produce from strong young 
plants is usually very superior to that obtained 
from old plants. Ground that would grow 
good Potatoes would suit Asparagus. Either 
sow the seed thinly in drills 30 inches apart, 
eventually thinning out to a distance of 9 
inches apart, or else plant 1-year-old roots at 
the same distances apart. Keep them free from 
weeds, mulch before dry hot weather is antici¬ 
pated, and then nothing but poverty at the 
roots will prevent a strong growth. 
In most large gardens a fresh bed is formed 
every spring, the oldest bed being broken up 
for forcing. If the beds are well prepared, 
and fresh sites chosen each time, this gradually 
brings a garden into a highly cultivated state. 
The plants for forcing should be carefully 
lifted, enough being taken to fill a two-light 
or three-light frame, or the same number of 
lights in a pit to be forced at one time, un¬ 
less a large supply is wanted at any particular 
date, in which case a period of from 15 to 30 
days, according to the time of year, should be 
allowed, a close succession to be kept up by 
means of fresh relays of plants every fortnight or 
three weeks. Seeing that it is impossible to lift 
when the ground is frozen, severe frosts should 
be anticipated either by lifting a good supply of 
plants and storing in fine moist soil under cover 
or else by covering the beds with strawy manure. 
Asparagus forces readily in pits, bottom-heat 
being afforded by a gentle hot-bed of manure 
and leaves, and top-heat by means of hot-water 
pipes. It can also be forced successfully in 
ordinary frames on mild hot-beds. Keep the 
lights close, and mat over heavily till the shoots 
are coming up freely, when a little light and air 
during mild days should be admitted. Force 
all the growth out of the plants, and then throw 
them away as being no longer of any value. 
Divide the shoots into grades, mixed bundles 
not finding favour. The smallest shoots may 
be used in soup-making. 
Green or even blanched Asparagus may be 
produced in any forcing-house, in a temporary 
pit formed of wood, or in boxes. The latter 
may be made so as to rest one above the other, 
in order to occupy comparatively little base 
room. They may be 2 feet wide, 3 feet long, 
and 1 foot deep, with an upright 20 inches long 
secured inside the box in each corner. The 
uprights, standing 8 inches above the upper 
edges of the box, will serve as posts for sup¬ 
porting another similar box, and leave space for 
the growth of the shoots and for cutting. In 
this way four or five tiers may be placed along 
the back wall of a vinery or other forcing-house 
at work. 
Insects , dx. —See chapter on this subject. 
Leaf Enemies. —Garden Pebble Moth. 
Balm ( Melissa officinalis). —A hardy peren¬ 
nial, native of south Europe. Its young shoots 
are sometimes employed in salads instead of 
Parsley. It is also used for making a decoction 
known as Balm-tea. 
It prefers a light warm soil, and is propagated 
by division early in spring. The subsequent 
culture is confined to keeping the ground free 
of weeds, and stirring it occasionally; the stems 
should be cut down when frost sets in; by these 
means the plants will remain vigorous for many 
years. When coming into flower some stalks 
should be gathered and dried for winter use. 
Basil ( Ocymum basilicum ) (fig. 1155). — An 
annual, a foot high, native of India. The aro¬ 
matic leaves are used in soups, &c., and occa¬ 
sionally in salad; but their strong flavour is 
disagreeable to some persons. 
