"The Asparagus being brought to the requisite state of vigor, the next question is how to secure the necessary succulence, which it never has beyond two or three inches in an English market, and not often anywhere else. That succulence will depend upon temperature as much as other causes. The warmer the Asparagus bed is kept while the sprouts are rising, the more brittle they will be, provided the temperature of the soil does not rise above 75 degrees at the most. Now under ordinary circumstances, everything is done to keep it cold; buried twelve or thirteen inches below the surface, the influence of the sun is slowly felt, and very imperfectly into the bargain. It is only when the roots are lightly covered by some rapidly conducting material that the sun can exercise his proper influence, unassisted by artificial contrivances. Hence, one of the greatest faults that the Asparagus grower can commit is to bury his plants deep. Only observe Mr. Kendall's practice; his plants are just covered with soil resting upon a deep bed of the most nutritious matter-The earliest rays of the sun are felt in such a case, and as soon as the dormant energy of the plant is roused, it continues to be exercised without a day's interruption.

It is true that the Asparagus thus obtained is green; and so it should be. Green-grocers and cook-maids are of a different mind, and we believe are the only authority to the contrary. Their opinions may, we think, be fairly examined by the evidence of the senses of those who have eaten this vegetable; and to that ordeal we have great satisfaction in committing them".

Culture Of Asparagus #1

THAT there is a greater difference between the product of a properly cultivated Asparagus bed and a neglected one, than between any garden vegetable that is vended in our markets, is well known to the accurate observer. We are free to say that the majority of market asparagus in this region, is almost good for nothing. It is tough, not one third being edible; this is the result of careless or cheap culture, and ought not to be.

It is my experience that asparagus beds, from seed planted where it is to remain, come as early into bearing as those from transplanted roots. The seed is sown in autumn or early spring, in drills about half an inch deep in heavy soil, and an inch in light soil, the ground being rich and well manured, and at the time of planting not higher than the surrounding ground: raising the surface by top dressing from the walks, and by successions of the best manures, will give it a better chance than transplanting, which proves always a drawback; but in this case the subsoil should be trenched and highly enriched for a depth of nearly two feet before sowing the seed. The next autumn, cover the bed three inches deep with manure. For two years let the plants grow to strengthen the roots, keeping the beds clean, raking off the dead stalks in the fall before manuring, and forking in the manure in the spring; if the soil contains much clay, a top layer of sand will be beneficial for the roots to come through instead of a baked surface.

Salt is essential, but it must not be sown over the bed before the seeds have well germinated and begin to be established; then it is essential to perfection and should be liberally employed at least twice a year - in the spring before vegetation commences, and during the summer before a rain.

The grand rule to be observed is, do not cut too much at any period, but especially when the plants are young. Weeds, even the dandelion and nettle, if their shoots are removed as they appear, become gradually more feeble until they disappear altogether. The roots are as dependent upon the leaves as they are upon the root, receiving from them the elaborated sap which they form by means of solar light, and convey downwards for future purposes. When therefore, leaves are not allowed to be developed, the root is weakened, and if the process is continued long enough, it will inevitably die. Now there is no difference between the Nettle and Asparagus in the essential arrangements of their physiology. The shoot of the latter is the stem destined to develop foliage, and if cut off, nature makes another effort and produces a duplicate to replace that which is removed. If a bed of Asparagus were left to itself, a few strong stems would be produced, which are multiplied ten-fold by cutting, each succession being weaker than that which preceded it Every cutting therefore is injurious, but the damage is replaced to some extent by a high artificial cultivation, and within certain bounds the shoots may be cut off without materially deteriorating the plants.

Knowing when to stop is therefore the grand secret in growing this delicious vegetable, for the less the roots are stimulated by the effort of reproduction, the finer will be the product next year. In order, therefore, to have sufficient for a family, it is desirable the beds should be so extensive as to allow of enough being gathered without weakening the plants. In large gardens I would suggest a succession of beds, one set out this year being allowed an almost uninterrupted growth till next year; in this way Asparagus could not degenerate.

It is a practice with some gardeners to plant lettuce in the vacant spaces in the beds, and to allow weeds to obtain a footing, abstracting from the soil that nutriment which its exhausted owner so much needed. Every weed should be kept down, and as the growth proceeds, liquid manure should be applied. The properties of salt in relation to Asparagus ought to be well understood by this time. Before rain, all the bed should be strewn over with salt, so as just to cover the ground. This repeated two or three times while the stems are growing, will be productive of great good. Thus with the aid of the sun, air, and manure, it will gratefully repay you; sufficient nutriment will be stored up in the roots, to push forth fine Asparagus shoots next year. Moderation in cutting, and skill in growing the stems and foliage, are thus the two grand conditions to be observed.

An objector at my elbow declares it is his belief that the salt and the manure added to the labor, will make every mess of Asparagus cost as much as what he buys in market. I have no doubt of it, but then - what do we get in repayment; an article four times as good, one quarter of which is worth the whole bunch that you buy; you get nourishment, instead of a very bad temper, to digest your food.

One more observation should not be omitted - keep your plants at some distance from each other, for the stalks can never grow so large when crowded together, as when they have space to receive the sun'and air on the surface.