A, A represent the alleys between the beds, and B the top of one bed.  The dotted lines show the ridges on which the roots are to rest at C, C. When the bed is ready, open the package and place the Asparagus on the ridges at fifteen or eighteen inches apart, allowing about half the roots of each plant to fall down on either side of the ridge.  As a rule it will be wise to have two pairs of hands engaged in the task.  The soil should be filled in expeditiously, and a finishing touch be given to the bed.  Very rarely will it be safe to transplant Asparagus until the end of March or beginning of April, for although established roots will pass unharmed through a very severe winter, those which have recently been removed are often killed outright by a lengthened period of cold wet weather, and especially by thawed snow followed by frost.

==Giant Asparagus.==—­Some of the most critical judges of Asparagus in the country are extremely partial to giant sticks.  Their preference is not based on mere superiority in size, but on the special flavour which is the peculiar merit of these extra-large Asparagus when they are properly grown.  Although there is no difficulty whatever in producing them, it must be admitted that to insure specimens weighing nearly or quite half a pound, plenty of space must be allowed for the full development of each plant and a prodigal use of manure is imperative.  Where drainage is effectual, the soil of any well-tilled garden can be made suitable.  The roots may be grown in clumps or in rows.  Clumps are planted in triangular form, two feet being allowed between the three plants of each group, with a distance of five feet between the groups.  The more usual method, however, is to plant in rows.  In both cases the cultural details are almost identical, and to obtain the finest results it is wise to get the preparatory work done at convenient times in advance of the planting season.  Assuming that rows are decided on, commence operations by digging a broad deep trench, throwing out the soil to the right and left to form sloping sides until there is a perpendicular depth of twenty-seven inches from the top of the ridge.  About one foot of prepared soil should be placed in the bottom of the trench.  This may be composed of such material as the trimmings of hedges, sweepings of shrubberies, twigs from a faggot pile, wood ashes and leaf-mould.  The constituents must to some extent depend on the materials at command.  What is wanted is a light compost, consisting almost wholly of vegetable matter in a more or less advanced state of decomposition.  Add three or four inches of rich loam, and on this, at the beginning of April, plant strong one-year roots of a robust-growing variety.  Between the plants it is customary to allow a space of at least two feet, and some growers put them a full yard apart.  Cover the crowns with three inches of rich soil, previously mixed with manure and laid up for the purpose.  The second and following