Artichoke, Globe (Cynara Scolymus)

Seed should be sown early in the spring, in deep, rich, loamy soil, in drills one foot apart, and thin the plants to four inches asunder in the rows; or they may be increased by suckers drawn from the old plants, and planted in April in lines a foot apart, and thirty inches from each other in the rows. Protect through the winter with litter or earth, where necessary.

Artichoke, Jerusalem (Helianthus Tuberosus)

This is a tuber like the potato, and will succeed on any ordinary soil, although it will repay better treatment. They should be planted in rows about a yard apart, the tubers or sets being placed four inches deep and about sixteen inches from each other. March or April is the proper month to perform this operation. By October or November the tubers will be ripe, when they may be taken up and stored.

Asparagus (Asparagus Officinalis)

Very many persons run away with the idea that this delicious vegetable can only be grown by those who are able to go to em extravagant outlay; but such is not the case. Good cultivation it must have, but the excessive use of manure frequently recommended is by no means absolutely necessary. All that is requisite is to have the land well drained, deeply dug, and liberally manured. In a word, any kind of soil may be made suitable; but a heavy damp clay or a poor thin soil will never do for it. Select an open sunny situation for the bed or beds, and make up a good foundation, as it is not very likely to be disturbed for years. The beds should be made three feet wide, with two-feet alleys between, for an early supply; and five feet wide, with three-feet alleys, for the later and larger simply; the narrow beds invariably producing earliest. In the three-feet beds, two rows of plants are required, and they should be a foot apart and the plants the same distance asunder in the rows. In the five-feet beds there should be three rows - one in the centre and one on each side of it, at a distance of eighteen inches from it. Where large asparagus is desired, the plants should stand not less than eighteen inches apart in the rows.

We do not approve of large heads; but it is no reason why others should not. The quickest way to obtain a supply is to plant strong, freshly-dug roots. It is advisable, however, at the same time to raise a plantation by sowing seeds, as the anxiety of waiting will, in this case, be amply compensated for by the superior quality of the produce, beds raised from seed being, in the long run, the best. In this case you must mark out shallow drills at the same distances as advised for plants, and in these sow thinly and not too early; and when the seedlings are two inches high, thin them out to the proper distance apart, and afterwards give them good culture. As a matter of course weeds must be kept down, and a heavy dressing of rich manure must be put on every autumn, to be followed in the spring by a liberal coating of salt; that is to say, at the rate of a pound to every six square yards. During the summer, manure water may bo given freely with advantage, as it will pay for its cost in the increased production and superior quality of the heads.

The best time for planting the roots is in the month of March; but seed should not be sown earlier than April. In either case favourable weather should be selected for the operation.

Beans, Broad (Faber Vulgaris)

The most suitable soil for these is a deep strong loam, with plenty of manure; but they will do well on a stiff clay also. November is the best time to sow such sorts as the Mazagan and Giant Long Pod on a light and dry soil, and January or February on heavy soils. Sowings may be made from February to June, at intervals, where necessary, for succession. The dwarf sorts should be sown from a foot to eighteen inches apart; but the stronger-growing kinds will require to be two or three feet asunder, and to be at least six inches distant from each other in the rows.

Beans, Kidney Or Dwarf (Phaseolus Vulgaris)

These endure drought better than any other vegetables grown, and are remarkably profitable; but we regret to say they are too frequently crowded injuriously, and consequently have but a poor chance of attaining their proper proportion of fruitfulness. This may be avoided by planting or sowing the weakest-growing kinds two feet apart, to be ultimately thinned out to one foot asunder in the rows, which must not be less than two feet distant from each other; while the more robust sorts should be two and a half feet apart from plant to plant, and the rows the same distance from each other. They require a moderately rich and light soil.