VEGETABLES. 263 



deeper you get the roots the better. You must start your 

 plants early, in February, if possible. "When they are large 

 enough prick them out and force them as rapidly as possible, 

 and then be sure to set them out before the Fourth of July. 

 If you set them out later they will somehow not take root. 

 Celery can be grown and should be grown by everyone. 



ASPARAGUS. 



BY WM. LYONS, MINNEAPOLIS. 



Fourteen years ago I set out my first acre of asparagus, using two-year- 

 old plants. At the same time I planted one pound of seed in order to 

 raise my own plants for future use. Two years later I planted three acres 

 more. I now have four acres. 



The first thing to be done by one who wishes to grow asparagus for mar- 

 ket is to see if he has soil that is suitable. It should be a rich loam and 

 as deep as it, is possible to obtain. Asparagus will grow on almost any 

 soil, but I do not think it would be profitable on a heavy clay soil. It 

 does well on light, sandy soil, by the use of plenty of manure. 



The next thing is to have a supply of good, strong plants, one or two 

 years old. These can be obtained from some nurseryman, or can be grown 

 from the seed on your own land. I prefer home-grown plants. 



Asparagus seed, when sown in the spring, is very slow to germinate, 

 and it is difficult to prevent the weeds from taking possession of the 

 ground before the asparagus plants appear. My plan has been to soak 

 the seed in warm water until swollen and softened, before sowing. It 

 should be sown in long rows about fifteen inches or more apart, so as to 

 be tended with hand cultivation. If a few radish seeds are sown with 

 the asparagus they will come up at once and show where the rows are, so 

 that they can be cultivated before the asparagus appears. 



After soaking the seed put it into a coarse bag and bury it in the 

 ground (where it will be warm and moist) until it begins to sprout, and 

 then when sown it will come up immediately. Be sure and keep the 

 plants clear of weeds through the season. To make good plants the soil 

 must be very rich, so use plenty of manure. You will want them to be as 

 large as possible, sow plenty of seed and then when weeding them thin 

 out the plants to about three inches apart. During the season while 

 your plants are growing, you should prepare the permanent bed. It is 

 not necessary to dig out all the earth to the depth of two or three feet and 

 fill in the bottom with all manner of trash. The land must be deeply 

 ploughed and thoroughly pulverized. It cannot be made too rich. As- 

 paragus is one of the grossest 'feeders of all vegetables in culti- 

 vation. The proper distance between the rows and between the plants 

 in the row is a matter of dispute. Years ago the rule was, three feet be- 

 tween the rows and eighteen inches between the plants. This I 

 thought too close and my four acres are set five by three feet apart. If 

 I were to plant another bed I would set it five by five feet apart. 



Make trenches with a plow not less than six inches deep, spread the 

 roots out in their natural position, cover lightly to keep in place, then 



