48 ASPARAGUS 
heavy can not be doubted. Where stable or barnyard 
manure can be had cheaply, and the soil is heavy, a 
liberal coat spread broadcast over the surface and left 
to the action of the weather during winter will 
ameliorate the ground considerably. In most cases, 
however, the same object may be obtained by applying 
the manure in spring. Joseph Harris mentions a case 
in which a bed was plowed and subsoiled in the fall 
and the soil filled with manure, while another bed 
near by was planted without manure, or extra prepara- 
tion of any kind, relying entirely on artificial fertilizers 
after planting, and the latter was by far the better bed. 
As early in spring as the ground is in suitable condi- 
tion to be worked it has to be plowed and harrowed 
anc brought into as perfect condition as possible, 
