282 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Pink — Blanche Ferry, Katherine Tracy, Miss Hunt, Princess Be- 

 atrice, Apple Blossom. 



^yhite — Blanche Burpee, Queen of England. 

 Red — Cardinal, Firefly, Splendor. 

 Blue — Navy Blue, Countess of Radnor, Monarch. 

 Yelloiit — I'rimrose, Mrs. Eckford. 

 Orange Pink — Lady Mary Curry. 



HOW TO PREPARE AND PLANT A PERMANENT ASPARAGUS 



BED FOR PRIVATE USE. 



By JOSEPH HURLEY, Gardener to J- M- Bhodes, Ardniore, Pa. 



Asparagus is a vegetable that ought to be in every private garden; 

 therefore, it is one of those things the planting of which should not 

 be put off from 3'ear to jear, but should be done just as soon as the 

 property has been secured and the owner has made up his mind to 

 build his home. 



A great many people are deterred from planting an asparagus 

 bed because it takes so long for it to come into bearing; hence the 

 greater the necessity for starting at once. 



LOCATION. 



Having made up your mind to plant the asparagus bed, the next 

 thing to do is to choose a good location, and by that I mean one 

 with a southern exposure and sufficient fall to carry away all sur- 

 plus water. On flat, level land, where the water is apt to lay, you 

 can help it considerably by putting broken stone about one foot deep 

 in the bottom of the trenches. This will keep the water away from 

 the crowns at all times. 



PREPARATION OF BED. 



For a good and lasting bed of asparagus, it is necessary to pre- 

 pare the ground thoroughly by digging the whole bed over to a 

 depth of nt least four feet. First remove all top soil one spade 

 deep and cart it away to a pile close by the bed, so as to have it 

 handy when the bed is dug over, to spread again over the surface. 

 You now proceed to open your first row. This can readily be done 

 by carting the dirt over and beyontj wjiere your last row is to be; 



