130 ASPARAGUS AND RHUBARB. 
kept up until all danger of frost is past, when the canvas 
is removed and the plants grow naturally out of doors. 
It is probable that some such plan as this will be found 
to be perfectly practicable in the forcing of asparagus and 
rhubarb, and thus obviate the wasteful methods now in 
use of forcing and destroying transplanted roots. The 
secret of this method will no doubt be found to lie in 
allowing the plantation to become very thoroughly es- 
tablished (at least three or four years old) before forc- 
ing is attempted, in the very best tillage and fertilizing 
during the summer whilst the plants are growing, in tak- 
ing off the cover just as soon as settled weather comes, 
and in not cutting the plants after that time. 
ASPARAGUS. 
The most essential point in the forcing of asparagus 
from transplanted roots, is to have very strong roots. 
They should not be less than four years old from the 
planting of the bed, and five and six-year roots are com- 
monly better. It is often almost impossible to secure 
good roots, for the best roots are the ones which the 
asparagus grower most desires to keep in his plantation. 
The two circumstances which yield the best roots, as a 
rule, are the growing of the plantation for this particular 
purpose, and the taking out of alternate rows in planta- 
tions which have become too crowded. The grower is 
often obliged to take the roots from old and partially 
spent beds, but the best results are not always secured 
from such stock. 
The roots are dug as late in the fall as possible, care 
being taken not to break the clumps, and to retain as 
much soil as possible, and they are then piled in a shed 
or cold cellar where they can be had as wanted. In this 
storage, they should be covered with earth or litter to 
prevent them from drying out, and freezing is supposed 
to add to their value for forcing. 
