Vermont State Horttcttxtural Society. 55 



perience has proven that to give a couple of top dressings of 

 nitrate of soda during- the cutting season has been beneficial. 

 It is well to consider when planting that the "crown" is built 

 anew each season a fraction of an inch above the old one, and as 

 a bed is expected to last many years,, room should be left for 

 new growth before the "crowns" will reach the surface of the 

 soil, and be injured by cultivation. Rows are better when planted 

 north and south, as in this way they get the full benefit of the 

 sunshine. 



Cutting and marketing are not the least important factors 

 in asparagus culture, as one needs to exercise considerable 

 patience and common sense in the former, and be alert to keep 

 up with the commission man in the latter. When cutting, care 

 should be taken to use a narrow bladed knife so as not to destroy 

 the young shoots below ground. Those specially made for the 

 purpose and sold by most seedsmen do the work very well. 

 When inserting the knife into the soil, care should be taken not 

 to start too far away from the stalk, as one is apt to injure any 

 shoots that may be growing near, but the blade must be inserted 

 about an inch away and should have such a shape as to cut the 

 stalk about three inches below the surface of the soil. The stalks 

 are then laid carefully in a basket, the marketable ones neatly 

 in rows, and the inferior to one side for home use or canning 

 purposes. This method saves time when bvmching. 



In regard to bunching I would not advise anyone who 

 wishes to make a success of asparagus culture, to put it on the 

 market in any other way but in bunches, the weight to be reg- 

 ulated by what that market demands. True, much "grass" 

 comes into our market merely laid in baskets, but at best it is 

 a slovenly method, and as a rule brings an inferior price, and 

 gluts the market for the superior vegetable. 



In buying a buncher,. it is well to get one so constructed 

 that the stalks can be put in quickly and from which the bunch 

 can be slipped out without destroying the tender tips. The 

 bunches should be filled just full enough so as not to crush any 

 of the stalks and yet have the bunch firm when tied. As to the 

 material used for tying I would not recommend a round string, 

 a? this has a tendency to cut into the stalks, but some sort of 

 bark which gives a broader surface and will tie firmly, is to 

 be preferred. 



After the bunch is tied and before taking out of the bunchers 

 the butts should be trimmed off evenly with a sharp knife. This 

 gives it a neat, tidy appearance and allows it to stand up better 

 on the market. When finished the bunches must be put into a 

 refrigerator or some cool, moist, dark place until it is times to 

 ship them to market. 



