22 CIRCULAE NO. 110, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



but the plants may also be grown from seed. A very fertile soil is 

 essential and the crop should therefore be manured heavily each 

 year. It is better not to harvest the asparagus the first two seasons 

 after planting, for it is necessary that a strong root system be devel- 

 oped. Commencing with the third year, harvesting may begin. 

 Asparagus will grow in soils too alkaline for most other crops. 



Beans. — As beans are tender annuals, they must be planted after 

 danger of frost is past, which on the Truckee-Carson Project is about 

 May 15. Over 20 varieties have been tried at the experiment farm 

 in comparative tests. As the result of these tests the following 

 varieties are recommended for home use: 



Bush varieties of string beans, green Pole varieties of string beans: 



podded: Kentucky Wonder Pole. 



Early Yellow Six Weeks. Field varieties for dry shelled beans; 



Burpee's Stringless. Colorado Mexican. 



Bush varieties of string beans, wax Navy, 



podded: Mexican Pinto. 

 Improved Golden Wax. 

 Dwarf Horticultural. 

 Davis White Wax. 



Beets.— Beets are of easy culture and will grow in soil containing 

 considerable salt. The subsoil should be loose and mellow, as a hard- 

 pan tends to cause the roots to grow short and misshapen, with many 

 side roots. A late planting may be made between June 20 and July 

 15 for autumn and winter use. For fall planting a turnip-shaped 

 variety rather than a long-shaped, slow-growing variety should be 

 selected. 



Carrots. — Carrots are somewhat more difficult to grow than beets. 

 The seeds are small and slow to germinate, so that it is important to 

 have a mellow, well-tilled soil — one that does not "bake" or crust 

 badly. Sometimes seeds of quick-maturing radishes are mixed with 

 the carrot seeds. The radish seeds, being relatively large and quick 

 germinating, break the crust and make it easy for the tender carrot 

 seedlings to come through. The soil for the carrots should be loose 

 and mellow, as a hardpan subsoil tends to make them grow short, 

 misshapen, and much branched. A late planting may be made dur- 

 ing the last half of June for autumn and winter use. 



Corn. — Sweet corn does not usually produce well on desert soils, 

 but it grows well on old alfalfa land. The greatest difficulty in con- 

 nection with the growing of sweet corn is due to the prevalence of the 

 corn earworm, for which no effective remedy is known. It is essen- 

 tial that early varieties be selected. Peep o' Day, Golden Bantham, 

 and Early Minnesota are good varieties to use. 



Cucumbers. — As cucumbers are sensitive to frost they must be 

 planted after danger of frost is past, unless arrangements are made 



[Cir. 110] 



