ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 279 



in ordinary storage. In size both the Surehead and Flat Dutch are 

 larger but not as good quality. J. R. D- 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE, 

 J. R, Duncan. 



Question: "I would like to have asparagus discussed. What 

 size bed shall I make to supply a family of six? When is the best 

 time to plant it?" 



Answer. Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables which can be 

 grown in the garden and is in great demand on the market. The work 

 of growing asparagus is not any greater than producing any other 

 vegetable crop. In choosing the site for the asparagus patch, a sunny 

 well drained location should be chosen as the asparagus should have 

 the full benefit of the sun all day. In order to produce the best stalky 

 of asparagus the ground should be made rich. The best way to accom- 

 plish this is to spade or plow under a liberal coating of well-rotted 

 manure, thoroughly mixing it with the soil. This should be done in. 

 the fall but if not then as early in the spring as the ground can be 

 worked. After the ground has been prepared you are ready to mark 

 it out. The distance apart to set the plants is a mooted one but the 

 best distance is two and one-half feet apart in the rows and the rows 

 about four feet apart. This gives plenty of room for the plants to 

 grow and not crowd each other. In setting the plants a trench or fur- 

 row should be dug making it deep enough so that the crown of the 

 asparagus plants will be from six to eight inches below the surface of 

 the ground. The roots of plants should be spread out and the dirt 

 tramped firmly around them. A depression should be left above the 

 plants, filling the trench up gradually as the plants grow. A liberal 

 dressing of well-rotted manure should be applied to the surface and 

 worked in by frecjuent cultivations. The young plants need to be 

 kept free from weeds so as to make a vigorous growth. Don't cut any 

 stalks the first year after planting as it will tend to weaken the plants. 

 Let them get well established and when cuttings are commenced the 

 second season the stalks will be large and period of cutting extended 

 over several weeks. One of the secrets of successful asparagus cul- 

 ture is to keep -it well fertilized and cultivated so that the plants are 

 in vigorous growing condition and that they don't become crowded. 

 The best size plants to buy and set out are strong one-year plants. 

 These can be obtained from any good nursery or seed house. For an 

 ordinary family of six, fifty plants well cared for will keep them well 

 supplied during the spring with all the asparagus they can use. It is 

 a good plan to set it in rows so that cultivation can be done by a horse. 

 In cutting it is a good plan to cut part of the patch each alternate day 

 thus having a daily supply. Every garden should have its asparagus 

 patch to supply the table when other vegetables are scarce and high. 

 In reading over the foregoing I notice the time of planting has been 



