14 
AMERICAN KITCHEN GARDENER. 
to set apart a few of the finest heads of his own crop for seed; but as file 
stock is upright, and the head so formed as to receive and hold water, it 
often happens that the seeds rot. To prevent this, the stems of the plants 
so set apart should be tied to stakes driven into the ground near them, and 
gradually bent, so as to giv2 to the heads that degree of declination that will 
be sufficient to carry off the water that may fall upon them. J? 
Use. —In England, the full heads only are eaten, always boiled. In Italy, 
they eat the young heads raw, with oil, salt and pepper. The stalks ire 
eaten in France and Germany, boiled and seasoned with butter and vinegar. 
The flowers have the property of rennet, and have sometimes been used as 
a substitute for that article. 
ASPARAGUS. 
# Asparagus Officinalis .— Aspcrge , Fr .—Spar gel, Ger 
Soil .—Asparagus ground should be light, yet rich: a sandy loam, well 
mixed with rotten dung or sea-weed, is recommended. 
Preparation. —A good quantity of dung trenched twelve or fifteen inches 
below the surface. 
Propagation. —It is best to raise this plant from seeds, although the sprouts 
from seeds will not be fit to cut so soon by a year as from the roots. The 
seeds should be dead ripe when gathered, and taken from the strongest and 
most compact shoots. 
Quantity of seeds or roots. —If sown to transplant, for a bed four feet and a 
half wide by six feet in length, one quart of seed will be requisite. If sown 
to remain, for a bed four feet and a half wide by thirty feet in length, one 
pint is necessary. If plants a year old are wanted for a plantation, then for 
a bed four feet and a half wide by thirty feet in length, to contain four rows 
of plants nine inches distant in the row, one hundred and sixty plants will 
be requisite. The seeds may be sown as early as the season will permit in 
the spring, or (according to Cobbett) “three weeks, or about, before the 
frost sets in ?? in the fall—and “ press the earth well down about the seed ; 
and, as soon as the frost sets in, but not before, cover the ground with muck 
oi litter a foot deep, and lay some boards or poles to prevent its blowing off. 
As soon as the frost breaks up in the spring, take off the litter, and you will 
nave the plants quickly up. 5? 
Progressive culture. —In the month of March or April, (during the whole 
existence of the plant.) the beds must be carefully forked and dressed, and 
kept clear of weeds. Occasional waterings are necessary, till the third or 
fourth vear. when the pta its will be sufficiently established to do withou* 
