Time Of Production

In May the beds are in full production of young shoots, which, when from two to five inches high, are fit for cutting, and as long as the head continues compact and firm. Care must be taken in cutting not to injure those buds which are generally rising from the same root in various grades of successional growth within the ground. The knife ought to be narrow pointed, the blade about nine inches in length, and saw edged. The earth being carefully opened round the shoot, to observe whether any others are arising, the blade is to be gently slipped along the stalk until it reaches its extremity, where the cut is to be made in a slanting direction. It almost always occurs that the same stool produces a greater number of small heads than large ones, but the latter only should be cut: for, the oftener the former are removed, the more numerously will they be produced, and the stools will sooner become exhausted.

"No one should cut too many sprouts from his asparagus beds. On the contrary, the gardener should take care to leave at least two or three strong sprouts, to grow from every root; or what is better, his beds should be rested one year, and cut another; for he may be certain from the strength of the summer shoots, what sort of sprouts he will have to cut the succeeding year remembering always that it is useless 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 of the succeeding summer, and so enable them to prepare plenty of materials 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." - Gard. Chron.

To Obtain Seed

Some shoots should be marked and left in early spring, for those which are allowed to run up after the season of cutting is over, are seldom forward enough to ripen their seeds perfectly. In choosing the shoots for this purpose, those only must be marked which are the finest, roundest, and 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 each stem would assuredly be fruitful; but as some of them only bear male or unproductive blossoms, that contingency must be allowed for. Each chosen shoot must be fastened to a stake, which by keeping it in its natural position, enables the seed to ripen more perfectly.

The seed is usually ripe in September, when it must be collected and left in a 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 refuse floats, and will pass away with 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 and air, may be stored for use.