Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-15
AGRICULTUIsAL.
Work in the Garden.
MARCH.

Quantity of Seed.-One or two ounces
Of Asparagus seed. will be sufficient 10
grow plants enough to supply the wants
ola large family. Should the design OF
the grower be. TO raise Asparagus for mar
ke,, the quantity Of seed will, Of course,
have to be increased, so as to meet the OBJ
ject in view.
Are of Plants far Setting Out.-Upon
this head there is diversity Of opinions
among good gardeners some contending
that the plants should he tro years old be-
fore transportation into their permanent
bed, while others prefer to set them on,
when on. year old. We prefer the latter
age, and believe that, if proper pains be
taken to keep the plants clean. and well
wstered in the seed bed. that at least n
year may be gained in the time of cutting
the asparagus. by setting out the plant,
when one year old. Those who do moi
wish to wait for the growing Of plants
can obinin them of most nurserymen.
Having disposed of the question ofras
ing the plants, we shall now proceed to
the formation of the permanent asparagus
bed.
Formation Of new bed.-Whcn the
plants are year old. as we before stated,
they will BIO fit 10 be transplanted into the
bed they are permanently to stand in. In
early spring. so soon as the frost is out Of
the ground, select your bed in an open,
well exposed part of your garden. The
soil should be a dep. dry, sandy ioam.-
Spade it to the full depth of your spade.
casting the surface soil on one side of you.
80 us to be convenient to be replaced, when
the subsoil shall have been spndcd up
After the surface soil has been removed to
the full depth ofthe spade. put on two or
dig that in to the full depth ofthc spade;
this done. rake the surface, and apply two
or three inches in depth, more. of well rot
ted manure. replace the surface soil. and
rake the bed until perfectly fine; then
broadcast over the bed about an inch, in
depth. Of well roited manure, as beiors,
rake that in thoroughly, so as to incorpor-
ate it well with the surface soil.
. Laying oGMe bed and setting the plants
eut.-Your ground being manured. trench
dug and thoroughly palevized, by raking,
divide it into beds "A feet wide, leaving al
leys two feet wide between each bed
Then stretch line 8 inches from tho edge,
cut drill close to the iue, 6 inches deep,
the side next the line TO be upright. Your
drill being opened, set your plants in as
upright as possible. 10 or IL inches asun-
der in the row. the crowns to be or
inches below the surface oithe ground -
In setting the plants in the drill. spread the
roots out as evenly as practicable before
covering them over. As you set each plant
in position. draw little earth with your
hand, over the roots, TO keep the plant
steady until You are ready to cover over.
Your row Of plants being thus fixed in the
drill. draw the earth with rake over it, SO
as 10 cover the plants. Then drive down
stake at each corner of The drill, so as
to designate the line Of plants, and thus
serve as a landmark or index. in working
the bed from year TO year afterwards. in
order that injury to the crown ofthe plants
may be avoided
Your first line Of plants being in and
covered, dig second, third and fourth
drill. as before. and set out your plants as
advised above. taking care to drive "a stake
1t each end of every row. as you proceed
The beds being 4 f. inches wide. and
the FIRST row being s inches from the edge.
will give rows ofasparagus to each bed
At IL inches apart. This arrangement.
with the 2 i.alleys, will allow ample room
to work the asparagus, and to cut it for
use. without injury from trampling.
The plants being all set out and COW
cred. gently rake the bed, and sow thereon
rs much salt and ashes, mixed in equal
quantities. as will thoroughly whiten tho
surface of the bed.
after Csifnre.-S Should the weather
prove dry after the plants are set in the
drills, the beds must be wa,ered at least
every second day, until the plants show
themselves above ground, without mois-
turc. they cannot take root. SO that only
few successive days of drought, ifneslec-
ted, might prove fatal to them. From the
very onset, the beds must be kept clean
from weeds and grass, and the earth stir
red. so as to derive advantage from atmos.
Pheric influences. If the plants he kept
clean. the earth open, and attention he
paid to free Gatherings, in dry seasons, the
asparagus may be advanced at least one
year in its FIJI bearing properties. Gene
rally. 1t takes three years to dcvelope the
productive powers OF this vegetable; but.
oy observing the care we have recon-
mendcd in the management of tho beds.
the tune may be shortened year, an adj
vantage which Is worth many times the
necessary labor to be bestowed
Fail Tredtment-After the ton. h,
become brown in the fall, cut them off.and
remove them from the bed then di. in
4 dressing Of compost manure, composed
Of seven parts Of rottcd dung and | part
ashes) with the tines Of a dung fork, be-
tween the rows. taking care not to disturb
the crowns Of the plants, rake the surface,
and strew salt and ashes over the beds.
Spring Trcatment-As soon as the
frost is out of the ground. fork between
the rows about an inch in depth. of the
compost recommended above. then rake.
and strew mixture Of salt and ashes. in
equal quantities. over the bed, freely
Should tho weather prove dry. the WATER
ms pot must be often used Occasional
wate.ings. in dry weather, with solutions
ofsoot. a. before Recommended. will great
Y promote the growth, and increase the
size ofthc Asparagus. A rich deep, EpLi,
open sot. cleanliness. moisture. periodical
applications Of manure. salt and as6e, are
the great conditions necessary TO en.nre
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