HOW TO SET ASPARAGUS. 23 



and a half or four feet, or whatever distance you may decide 

 to have the rows, apart, setting a stake at each end as a 

 guide to drive the horse to ; open the furrows by going down 

 and back in the same furrow : when going back in the same 

 furrow, a skilful ploughman will straighten any little crooks. 

 This will leave the land in ridges. The furrows are to be 

 cleaned out level at the bottom the width of a shovel, and at 

 as near a uniform depth as possible ; and that depth should 

 be eight inches below the level of the original surface of the 

 land. 



The piece is now ready for planting. A man steps into 

 the furrow, and sets the plants, usually a year old, from 

 twelve to fifteen inches apart, as the owner may decide, 

 placing the crown up, and carefully spreading the roots out 

 on each side, and at the same time covering them with his 

 hands two inches deep, which can readily be done, with soil 

 from the sides of the trench. 



The bed is now i)lanted. The after-cultivation will be to 

 hoe the plant, which will soon come up, taking the dirt from 

 the ridge in between the rows, and gradually filling the 

 trench : this will have to be repeated as often as the weeds 

 start, until towards August, when the trenches will be about 

 full ; then a horse and cultivator can be used the rest of the 

 season. The course I pursue on an established bed is this, 

 commencing after we have done cutting for the season : — 



Go through the rows with a horse and cultivator as long 

 as the tops will permit a horse to pass through without too 

 much breaking; hand weed once after this if necessary, 

 then, some time the last of October or in November, cut the 

 tops, and burn them on the ground ; plough the whole bed 

 five or six inches deep, which will not injure the plants if 

 they have been carefully set as I have described : this com- 

 pletes all for the autumn. In spring go over the land with 

 a Randall harrow ; apply the manure ; work again with a 

 Randall harrow, and finish it off by using a common harrow ; 

 now let it lie until the plants are about starting; then go 

 over the piece with a brush harrow, which will kill all small 

 weeds, and save labor. 



The crop, like all other products sent to market, must be 

 properly packed, and sent to market in the best shape and 

 condition, to realize the best prices. 



