The Bulletin. 9 



Large yields of asparagus can be made on almost any type of soil, 

 but when grown for early market, a light sandy, fertile, well-drained 

 loam is to be preferred. The land should be reasonably free of roots, 

 stones, or any trash that may interfere with the growth of the stalks. 

 Plow deeply and thoroughly prepare the soil preparatory to setting the 

 plants. Asparagus is a perennial crop, and the more time and care 

 given the preparation of the plant-bed the more profitable will be the 

 yield. Preparation can best begin in the fall, following a crop that has 

 had clean cultivation. A heavy application of well-rotted stable manure 

 plowed in at this time will greatly improve the physical condition of 

 the soil and will afford available plant food for the plants set the fol- 

 lowing spring. 



Being a gross feeder, asparagus needs rather heavy fertilization. As 

 it is grown for its succulent stems only, the fertilizer used should be 

 rich in nitrogen and potash to develop strong and rapid growth. Well- 

 rotted manure supplies a certain amount of these elements, but many 

 successful growers use chemical fertilizers to decided advantage. From 

 800 to 1,200 pounds an acre of a fertilizer having 



Available Phosphoric Acid 7 per cent 



Nitrogen 5 per cent 



Actual Potash 9 per cent 



could be used to advantage under normal conditions. An application 

 of at least 500 pounds an acre of this fertilizer should be made each 

 year. A heavy dressing of about twenty-five tons of well-rotted stable 

 manure can be made every third year to advantage. This can best be 

 applied just after the cutting season is over, for at this time the crowns 

 are forming buds from which the stalks of next season's crop develop. 

 Chemical fertilizers can also be applied to best advantage at this time. 



Asparagus is usually planted in the spring, although in some sections 

 it is done in the fall. Spring-planted roots stand transplanting better 

 than those put out later in the year. The early rains insure against 

 the necessity of watering the plants, which sometimes has to be done 

 if the planting is made during a dry fall season. Plants are set as 

 Boon as the ground is in good working condition. Formerly, the plant- 

 ings were made in beds, but the common practice nowadays is to set 

 the plants from 2 to 3 feet apart in rows 4 to 6 feet apart. The crowns 

 are planted from 5 to 7 inches deep in the rows. 



The cultivation for asparagus is the same as that given other truck 

 crops, except that in the early spring when the stalks are coming up 

 the dirt is worked to them if blanched, white asparagus is wanted. As 

 a rule, the blanched stalks are not so tender as the green ones, but as 

 some markets prefer white asparagus, it is advisable to cater to the 

 demands of the trade. When the cutting season is over the remaining 

 shoots are allowed to grow and cultivation is continued the same as with 

 other crops. When the berries on these growing bushes have become 



