ON THE CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS. 31 
in its greatest state of perfection. An eminent author has ob¬ 
served, that in the rich alluvial soil of Battersea, Mortlake, and 
other places around London, it is produced of such extraor¬ 
dinary size that one hundred and ten heads, in a state fit for the 
kitchen, have been known to weigh more than thirty-two 
pounds. There are those which think this gigantic asparagus 
to be a peculiar variety ; but this is an error, for it has been 
ascertained that when removed to less favourable soils, it gra¬ 
dually loses its characteristic vigour, and degenerates into the 
common kind. 
Of Beds and Planting . The ground having been pre¬ 
pared as already stated, it should be formed into beds four feet 
wide, leaving a space of not less than two feet between each 
bed for an alley: the beds thus formed out should have a 
strong stake put in at each corner to serve as a mark for the 
alleys ; a small portion of soil should be thrown from the space 
upon the beds, and this being done, the whole should be gently 
trod with the feet, the beds raked over, and made as level as 
possible. In beds of this size, there should be three rows of 
plants, the outside rows being planted nine inches from the 
edges of the bed; when planted nearer than this, I am con¬ 
vinced that the roots get damaged, as they extend. I recom¬ 
mend plants of one or two years’ growth, for planting; the latter i 
are preferable, but the difference is but trifling : they should 
not, however, be older, for they are then apt to be much 
damaged at the roots in transplanting. 
It is not requisite that I should give directions for planting, 
further than to state that the plants should be carefully lifted, 
avoiding to break the roots, and planting them again as quickly 
as possible; for by allowing them to become dry, much injury is 
done to them. The roots should be spread in each direction as 
much as possible, and the plants should be set in from two to 
three inches deep, and twelve inches apart in the row. I 
recommend March or April as the time for planting; but in 
this, as I have before stated, the season is the best guide: if 
the weather is dry, the plants should be watered to settle the 
soil about their roots. The onty work subsequently required to 
be done is the same as that which I have directed when 
speaking of seedlings. From plantations thus made, a few buds 
may be gathered the second season after planting. 
Whiter Dressing . Beds planted as I have directed will 
e 4 
