Successions of Broad Beans, Peas, Turnips, Spinach, Carrots, Onions, Celery, Tomatoes, and Leeks may be sown. (See previous chapter).

Artichokes

The Globe, Jerusalem and Chinese Artichokes may all be planted now. (See table in Chapter I (Jan. The Opening Year). for distances).

Planting Asparagus

Beds of this delicious vegetable may be made now, and heads will be yielded next spring if the "roots" are strong. They should not be less than two years old. As a guide to size, I may say that a "root" of which the fibres form as large a mass as can be grasped tightly in one hand, and six to nine inches long, is a good one, and ought to yield a nice crop a year after planting. It is worth while to take special pains with the bed. A low, damp site should be avoided, as Asparagus never thrives in close, sodden soil. The soil should be drained, so that no stagnant water can ever lie within two feet of the surface. Light, friable, loamy soil suits the crop better than heavy, adhesive clay, but the Asparagus-lover who has heavy land need not despair. I have myself grown very satisfactory crops of Asparagus on clay, so that I know it is possible. The ground should be dug not less than two full spades deep, and rich, decayed yard manure at the rate of about three barrow-loads per rod worked into the lower spit. I am convinced that deep breaking-up of the soil has much to do with success in Asparagus growing in heavy land. It facilitates the getting away of surface water, increases friability and aeration, and raises the level of the top or planting stratum. A determined grower will break his soil three feet deep, and deserve applause for his resolution. When the work is done the ground level will stand nearly a foot higher than it did before - quite that if road scrapings, mortar rubbish, and wood-ashes (all splendid additions to ground for Asparagus) are thrown on to the surface with a liberal hand. If two beds are being made side by side, a strip two feet wide may be marked out between them, and the soil from it thrown on to the beds, thus further raising the level, and simultaneously forming a path, or what the gardener terms an alley. A bed four feet wide will give plenty of room for two parallel rows, and the plants may be set in them eighteen inches apart. If the soil is light, cover them six inches deep, if heavy four inches. It is prudent to get the bed ready directly the plants are ordered, instead of waiting until the roots arrive. There is always danger of the roots getting dry, and if they do, anything may happen; even if they do not fail altogether, they will be very slow indeed in starting.

The variegated aloe-leaved Yucca (Yucca aloeifolia variegata) as a room plant.

Seed of Asparagus may be sown now for planting next spring. Existing beds of Asparagus may have a dressing of salt at the rate of a pound per square yard.