STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ^1 



Writers upon the siibjcf t of vegetable gardcnini; tia\c unclouhtcdly 

 done more to discourage the cultivation of asparagus, among the people 

 generally, than any other influence I could mention. 



The idea of trenching land to the depth of three or four feel and 

 stuffing it with old hoots, bones, brickbats, etc., is a task too great for 

 most persons to undertake, and after several years of varied experience 

 I have found that such a process is not only unnecessary, but is really a 

 disadvantage to the plant. 



A thorough comminution of a well drained, thoroughly cnric lied 

 soil, to the dej)th of ten inches or a foot is, I believe, the best possible 

 preparation for an asparagus bed, and may easily be accomplished with 

 a team and j>lo\v. This much, il ( onvenienl, should be done in the fall 

 .it which time the plants may be set, or left until spring. If placed five 

 or six inches below the surface they will, after once eslal)lished, require 

 little or no winter protection, but a few inches of manure if forked in 

 before the plants start in spring will be found beneficial. A spring top-' 

 dressing of salt will also encourage a stronger growth, and if applied in 

 sufficient quantity will completely eradicate all weeds. 



This extra care though not necessary to the production of a re- 

 spectable crop of asparagus, will always be found a paying investment, 

 but more especially so if the crop is grown for market. 



If planted in rows three feet apart with plants two feet apart in the 

 row, and well cared for, a bed two rods square will be sufficient for a 

 family of ten persons. When cultivated for market the returns will be 

 more satisfactory if planted in rows three feet by four, and cultivated 

 the sjame as corn, with the addition of a liberal topdressing of strong 

 manure. 



Rf.ans — One great object of a kitchen garden should be \o give to 

 the familv a succession of vegetables from the earliest ])ossiblc moment 

 in spring until the season of severe frosts in fall. Therefore the origin- 

 ator of the potato that arrives at maturity fifteen minutes earlier than 

 the Early Rose may be justly regarded as a benefactor of his race, and 

 the one who brought the Early Fejee and Early Rachel beans to the 

 notice of the public is equally worthy of respect. Either of these vari- 

 eties with the Early Mohawk and Dun Cranberry, will give a long suc- 

 cession of excellent string beans. The Fejee is remarkably early, is less 

 susceptible to injury from cold than the other varieties mentioned, and 

 is therefore best adapted to early planting. 



The Dun Cranberry is very productive, and remains longer in a 

 green state than either of the other varieties, making it almost a ne- 

 cessity when once introduced in a garden. As a pole or running 

 bean, the small lima or Butter bean has given such general satisfaction 

 thai I try no other. ' 



Beets — There is probably no vegetable more highly appreciated 

 than the early beet; and the gardener who can bring them into market 

 a week in advance of his neighbors may rely upon large sales and ex- 

 cellent profits. The early Egyptian being of good size and color for 



