A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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ASP 69 ASP
remembering always ttiat it is useless I plants arc past production, and unfit
to manure asparagus beds for sprouts
independently of summer shoots. If a
bed of asparagus is weak, manure in
the autumn will do but little for making
it bring strong sprouts the next season.
All that the manure can then do is to
teed abundantly the summer shoots
to remain in the garden, little can be
expected from them when forced.
Time of planting.—The first plantation
should be made about the latter
end of September; the bed, if it works
favourably, will begin to produce in the
course of four or five weeks, and will
of the succeeding summer, and so ena- continue to do so for about three ; each
ble them to prepare plenty of materials light producing in that time 300 or 400
out of which a second season's strong
sprouts may be pushed forth. What is
true of asparagus is equally true of
sea kale and rhubarb." Card. Chron.
To obtain seed.—Some shoots should
be marked and left in early spring, for
shoots, and affording a gathering every
two or three days.
Produce.—To have a regular succession,
a fresh bed must be formed
every three or four weeks, the last crop
to be planted in March or the early
those which are allowed to run up after part of April ; this will continue in
the season of cutting is over, are seldom production until the arrival of the natu-
forward enough to ripen their seeds ral ground crops. The last made beds
perfectly. In choosing the shoots for
this purpose, those only must be marked
which are the finest, roundest, and
will be in production a fortnight sooner
than those made about Christmas.
Bed.—The hot-bed must be substan-
have the closest heads ; those having
quick opening heads, or are small or
flat, are never to be left. More are to
be selected than would be necessary if
tial, and proportioned to the size and
number of the lights, and to the time cf
year. The common mode of making
a hot-bed is usually followed. The
each stem would assuredly be fruitful ; bed must be topped with six inches of
but as some of them only bear male or
unproductive blossoms, that contin-
light rich earth.
Quantity necessary.—If a small family
gency must be allowed for. Each is to be supplied, three or four lights
chosen shoot must be fastened to a stake, will be sufficient at a time ; for a larger
which by keeping it in its natural posi- six or eight will not be too many.
tion, enables the seed to ripen more Several hundred plants may be inserted
perfectly
under each, as they may be crowded
The seed is usually ripe in September, as close as [lossible together; from
when it must be collected and left in a 500 to 900 are capable of being inserted
tub for four or six weeks, for the pulp
and husk of the berry to decay, when
it may be well cleansed in water. The
seeds sink to the bottom, and the re-
under a three light frame, according to
their size.
Mode of planting.—in planting, a
furrow being drawn the whole length of
fuse floats, and will pass away with the frame, against one side of it the
the water as it is gently poured off. By
two or three washings the seeds will
be completely cleansed ; and when
perfectly dried by exposure to the sun
first row or course is to be placed, the
crown upright, and a little earth drawn
on to the lower ends of the roots, then
more plants again in the same manner,
and air, may be stored for use.
and so continued throughout, it being
Forcing.— Plants to be employed.— carefully observed to keep them all
Such plants must be inserted in hot-beds regularly about an inch below the sur-
as are five or six years old, and appear face ; all round on the edge of the bed
of sufficient strength to produce vigo- some moist earth must be banked close
rous shoots: when, however, any old
natural ground plantations are intended
to the outside roots.
Precautions necessary.— If the bed is
to be broken up, at the proper season extensive, it will probably acquire a
some of the best plants may be selected violent heat; the frames must there-
to be plunged in a hot-bed or any spare
corner of the stove bark beds. When
fore be continued off until it has
come regular, otherwise the roots
be-
are
more than ten years old, they are liable to be destroyed by being, as it i8
scarcely worth employing. To plant technically termed, scorched or steam-
old stools for the main forcing crop, is,
however, decidedly erroneous; for, if
scalded.
Treatment.—When the heat has be-