90 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 5. 
matter. The enormous hulk of mould only tends to weaken 
the plant, and is quite against the nature of it. A bundle of 
100 heads of the so-called best Asparagus looks well to the 
eye, but when the cook gets hold of it, three-fourths of it 
goes at once for Mr. Pig, then only do we find the expense 
of a dish. It is a very hard case, that although it is a native 
of Britain, through the expensive way of growing it, trades¬ 
men and the lower classes do not even know the taste of it, 
no doubt owing much to the expensive ground it is grown in, 
as well as from a misunderstanding of the physiological 
construction of the plant. The market-gardener’s plan of 
growing is as follows; but in the first place I would mention 
that— 
“ There is but one kind of Asparagus. A Mr. Grayson, 
an extensive grower on the south bank of the Thames, in¬ 
troduced what he called his 4 Giant ’ Asparagus; but it 
proved to be only the usual kind. He made it a ‘Giant’ 
by putting mould over a few of the very largest heads he 
could find on his extensive beds, which covered about thirty 
acres. The heads were cut and shown in market as a new 
sort. They were about eighteen inches or more in length, 
and a hundred heads weighed 42 lb.; hut, unfortunately, 
like other Asparagus, only three or four inches were fit for 
eating. There can be no doubt, however, that the present 
plan of saving seed from the strongest plants has much 
improved Asparagus. 
“ As it is my intention to discountenance the production 
of long white drum-stick Asparagus as much as 1 can, 1 beg 
leave to advocate the following plan, by which in time every 
row will form its own bed. 1 propose that each row be 
planted three feet distant from the other, and that each 
plant stand one foot apart in the row. This will give 
ample room for cleaning the crop, and for drawing up earth 
over the crowns, so as to form a ridge three or four inches 
deep, to be lowered again for the purpose of enriching the 
soil in the autumn and winter. By this method I consider 
that Asparagus might be cut at least ten days earlier than it 
is by the plan now practised of burying the roots deep in a 
bed of earth, where sun and air cannot act upon them; and 
as for flavour, it has long been proved that although gentle¬ 
mens’ gardeners do not grow Asparagus so large as the 
market-gardener, of the two it is by far the finest in flavour, 
with at least three times more eatable matter in each head, 
though only two-thirds the length. 1 have had Asparagus 
scut to me from Brussels, all blanched together a beautiful 
creamy white; but, when cooked, I could not discover the 
taste of Asparagus in it. It was watery and insipid, as 
, highly-blanched Asparagus must always bo, having only the 
j watery flavour of the roots. I have proved this years ago, 
by keeping it in frames shut up, and the glass covered over 
with mats to exclude light. 
“ I imagine that I have said enough to explode the old- 
fashioned and expensive plan of growing this much- 
esteemed British vegetable. Some imagine that unless the 
roots are covered during winter, the frost will kill them ; if 
roots are moved during winter, the wet will rot the injured 
fibres, and no gardener who understands anything of veget¬ 
able physiology would think of lifting the roots for planting 
until February or March, unless for forcing, and the latter 
! are put into heat at once; but Asparagus is perfectly hardy. 
The plan of putting large quantities of manure on it during 
; winter, is nevertheless good; for the winter rains wash the 
strength of the manure down amongst the roots. I should 
| give the ground a good salting annually in February, and 
when cutting is discontinued in June, I would soak with 
manure water, or town sewage water better still, or even 
spread on dry artificial manure, for the heavy rains will soon 
wash the strength of it among the roots, and just at the 
: time when the latter are making fresh crowns for next 
year’s crop. This is no doubt the proper time to manure 
Asparagus. If the above method of cultivation is adopted, 
I doubt not that its benefits will soon be discovered not only 
in the shape of improved 4 grass ; ’ but also by the consumer. 
* I believe that it is impossible for the grower to alter his 
mode of culture without the assistance of the consumer, 
and I am sure that by the plan I have just been advocating, 
the drain on the roots will not he half so much as it is now, 
owing to the fact of the latter having to form such a 
quantity of underground sticks, ultimately to he thrown away. 
Wherever it is practicable, Asparagus ground should slope 
to the south or south-east, and the rows should always run 
south and north. Where the land is light, ploughs might 
be used in throwing up the ridge on each side of the row, 
and then it could be forked over. The chief labour and 
expense will be in cutting and sending it to market, which 
will form employment for the people in the neighbourhood. 
In order to prove what the exclusion of air has to do with 
not only the flavour, but the hard or woody texture of the 
stern (under protracted growth), I had several heads of 
Asparagus just out of the ground covered over with long | 
Cucumber-glasses, and all air excluded. When the stems 
reached the top they were cut and boiled; but they were so 
hard that not even the top could be used, proving at once 
that without plenty of air, the stem gets tough and 
useless.” 
As a specimen of the useful information derivable from 
“ Turner’s Florist,” we will extract the following notes on 
A lew Roses, from the pen of Mr. C. G. Wilkinson, Western 
Rose Nursery, Ealing:— 
44 The new Bourbon Roses are comparatively few; some ! 
of them are, however, first-rate additions to that family. ! 
Appoline is one of the prettiest, clear pink', a seedling from 
Pierre de SI Cyr, on which it is a most decided improvement, 
being more compact, better formed, one of the freest late | 
bloomers, and of robust habit; and as a bouquet flower it 
has the approbation of the most distingue marchand in 
London, Aurora du Guide is violet-tinted crimson, and a 1 
dark flower. Duchcsse de Thuringe is, for a small cupped j 
Rose, a perfect model; its colour is light flesh, its habit 
dwarf, and it is quite a gem in the autumn. Furie is a very 
free-blooming bright crimson; but hardly distinct enough 
from some of a similar colour in this family. Louide Odier 
is a finely-formed strong-growing variety, a bright rose- I 
colour, and an excellent addition to the pillar varieties. In i 
Mcnoux we have one of the most brilliant recent additions ; I 
it is truly described as “ glowing carmine,” of dwarf habit, | 
and strikingly beautiful. Prince Albert (Paul) is a decided - 
improvement in habit and increased size on Cornice de Seine 
et, Marne :• in colour they are very similar, the Prince being 
somewhat more brilliant. Scipion is a crimson-tinted scarlet, 
very vivid pleasing colour. Vorace is, however, in my esti¬ 
mation, the gem of the dark novelties of this section; it is 
of the most beautiful shape, of large size, and a rich deep 
velvety crimson, and may be described as a perfect flower ; 
it has also a depth and substance of petal that induces me 
to believe that it will prove the first fine dark cupped show- 
flower (as a single) that has yet been introduced among the 
perpetuals. 
“ The most recent additions to the Noisettes are, Caroline 
Marnisse, a counterpart of Felicite Perpetue, now really a 
perpetual; Narcisse, a delicate pale yellow, not large, but 
beautifully formed; and Octavie, a novel bright red, of 
medium size, and an acquisition to this group. 
“ To the Chinas no very desirable additions have been 
made lately that I am aware of ; but to the Tea-scented we 
have a few which may be said to be valuable. Madame 
Willermorz is a large fine variety, very distinct and beautiful, 
being white with a nankeen or pale buff centre ; its form is 
of a deep cup, the petals stout, and for one of this family it 
appears quite hardy. Souvenir d'un Ami is one of the 
largest, much of the same shape, size, and quality; its 
colour is a clear pale flesh, and may be termed of robust I 
habit. Madame de Sombreuil is a fine large blush with a | 
yellowish tint, of the right form ; but of its constitution 1 
will not this season venture an opinion. 
“ Having brought the list of perpetuals to a close, I pro¬ 
ceed with such of the more recently introduced summer 
varieties as may yet be considered desirable to cultivate, 
although the perpetuals are fast superseding them. 
“A curious addition has been made to the Provence 
section in Narcisse de Salvandy (Van Houtte), being a bright 
crimson with a white margin; it is not very double, nor can 
its peculiar marking be always relied on, but as a picturesque 
Rose in a group it is unique; the new striped Provence, 
white with pink stripes, has, however, the character of con¬ 
stancy, which makes it very desirable. 
44 To that charming tribe the Mosses, we have recently 
added Nails de Young, a rich velvety deep crimson, not very 
large or double, but the colour makes it attractive ; and 
Jenny Lind, crimson, the buds of which are so thoroughly 
