VIII 
PLANTING 
HROUGHOUT the Middle and Northern States, 
spring, as soon as the soil can be worked to 
GE good advantage, is decidedly the most favor- 
able time for planting asparagus. If it is 
not practicable to plant thus early, the work may some- 
times be delayed up to the middle of June. In plant- 
ing thus late, however, preparation has to be made 
for watering the plants in case of drouth, else failure 
be inevitable. It is also necessary to do the work as 
expeditiously as possible, so as not to expose the roots 
to the drying influences of the sun and wind. Fall 
planting is advisable only in climates where there is 
no danger of winter-killing of the roots. 
After the ground has been plowed and harrowed, 
or spaded and raked over, and brought into as mellow 
a condition as possible, the rows for planting are to be 
laid out. It is usually recommended to have the rows 
run north and south, so as to readily admit the sun- 
light. When this is not practicable, however, it need 
not deter any one from making an asparagus bed, as 
it is more important to have the rows run with the 
slope of the land than in any particular direction 
of the compass, in order to provide ready surface 
drainage. 
