32 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
not till they are two years old require manure, or other stimu¬ 
lating matter ; and for three or four years this will not be 
required to a very great extent. On the other hand, beds that 
are older will require manure to be given them in large quan¬ 
tities, in order to feed and support the roots of the plant, and 
to maintain the strength and vigour of the stems. The season 
for adding manure is in the autumn, at the time when the stems 
and seed are ripe: the stems should be cut as closely to the 
ground as possible, and the beds must be forked over, and the 
soil taken from above the plants as closely as they will allow 
without damaging the crown of the roots : this soil must be put 
in the alleys, and the bed must then receive a good covering of 
well decomposed manure. And here I may suggest that in 
order to make the whole look neat, the manure so added should 
be beaten down with the back of the spade, and a little soil 
added to the edges of the beds, which should then be cut off 
straight, and the alleys between them dug, throwing the soil 
into a ridge: this materially assists in keeping the beds dry 
during the winter. 
Spring Dressing. As the spring in each succeeding year 
advances, the asparagus beds will want looking to; the roughest 
of the manure added in the autumn must be removed with a 
rake, and the beds lightly forked over, taking care not to injure 
the roots, then stretch a line from stake to stake at the corners 
of the beds, so as to keep the edges straight, and add someof 
the soil from the alleys to the top of the beds; this may be 
done to the depth of from six to nine inches ; break it fine, and 
make the beds as level as possible: by adding the quantity of 
soil mentioned the asparagus will send up much stronger stems 
than when a less quantity is employed. Keep the beds clear 
of weeds ; and should the spring be very dry, a little water will 
be found of great benefit in assisting the development of the 
shoots. The whole of the stems produced should be gathered 
while they are required ; afterwards they must be allowed to 
grow undisturbed. The buds are generally cut when from four 
to six inches in length ; the method of doing which it is not 
necessary to describe. 
Forcing. — To have this excellent vegetable.in winter, re¬ 
course must be had to artificial means for accelerating its 
growth; and b} r this means we can have it from November, till 
it naturally comes in the open garden through the sun’s in- 
