102 ASPARAGUS 
covered with six or eight inches of soil. The same 
object may be obtained by shutting off the light, which 
can easily be accomplished under greenhouse benches. 
Where it is not practicable to make excavations under 
the benches, a pit may be constructed by placing 
boards against the posts and filling in the space thus 
furnished. ‘Io secure a succession, new roots from 
the reserve stock have to be planted every three or 
four weeks. 
For the first week or ten days after placing the 
roots in the forcing-pit they should be kept rather cool, 
so as to give them a chance to become established. A 
temperature of 45° to 50° is best, at first. Afterward 
it should be raised to 55° to 60°, and during the day 
it may rise as high as 80° to 85°. But, asarule, very 
high temperatures induce a spindling growth. During 
the entire forcing process asparagus requires a large 
amount of water, but unless it has the chill taken off, 
and ample means for drainage are provided, it may do 
far more harm than good. ‘The interval between the 
time of planting and the first cutting varies greatly, 
according to the temperature and other conditions. 
The following are actual dates of asparagus forcing 
under benches at Cornell University: Plants taken 
from an old patch November 29th and set under 
benches three days later. December 4th, shoots just 
pushing through. December 8th, first shoots cut, 
averaging nine inches long. December 14th, first good 
cutting, shoots running from six to fifteen inches long. 
December 18th, second good cutting. December 26th, 
a good cutting, some of the shoots having remained 
too long and become woody ; some of these shoots were 
