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being 3} feet apart. Whatever may be the distance, the weight of the crop is about 
the same if the crops be kept properly apart, but crowded asparagus beds produce 
late and smaller crops of very inferior appearance and quality. 
Of course inferiority means a low price per bunch. Besides, the 
beds will not continue profitable so long if too closely planted. They 
are more liable to attacks from insects and disease, require more 
manure, and are more difficult to cultivate. It would seem that the 
advantages resulting from plenty of room are a full compensation for 
the extra ground occupied. 
The depth to which roots should be planted is somewhat dependent 
upon the soil and somewhat upon the method of cultivation and the 
kind of produce desired. 
It is reasoned by those in favor of deep planting that as the crown 
is built anew every season a fraction of an inch above the old one, and 
a bed is expected to live and produce profitably for from twelve to 
twenty years, room should be allowed for the new growths before the 
new crown will reach the surface of the soil; otherwise it will be 
necessary to raise the entire surface by addition of soil. Elevating 
the surface is expensive, but the crowns will be injured by cultivation 
if they are allowed to come too close to the surface, and so, unless 
planted deep originally, will require to be covered by raising the 
surface of the soil. 
It is admitted that deep planting makes late sprouting during the 
first few years, yet that is of small matter until the crowns are old 
enough to bear having the shoots cut; and besides, by ‘‘ opening up 
the rows,” i. e., throwing up ridges between the rows each spring, 
the roots will get the heat from the sun, and the soil can be gradually 
worked back upon the rows after the action of the sun’s rays has 
started the young growth and before the shoots reach the top. The 
whole surface can be left level, if green asparagus is to be cut, or be 
ridged, if white asparagus is desired. 
On the other hand, equally strong arguments and equally good 
results are presented by the advocates of shallow planting. 
Rows should be run north and south, so that the full benefit of the 
sunshine will be secured. If the rows run east and west, they will be 
shaded by the ridges in early spring, when the sun is low in the south, 
and later in the season they will be completely shaded on one side by 
the tall foliage. This delays sprouting in the spring, and prevents 
the best development of the plants at all times. Of course, any condi- 
tions, such as the slope of the land, etc., which make it inadvisable to 
run the rows north and south must be considered, but southeast to 
northwest or northeast to southwest is better than due east or west, 
or, in short, the natural conditions permitting, the course should be 
as far from east and west as possible. This is especially important to 
those who ridge the rows to produce white asparagus. 
When one recalls the care and exactness with which asparagus roots 
