76 Market Gardening. 



two years from the roots, according to their age when 

 planted, and, after that, full crops every year. 



The soil for this crop cannot be made too rich, and 

 should be thoroughly trenched two feet or more in 

 depth. The plants should be set six to eight inches 

 deep, in rows three to four feet apart, and one foot 

 apart in the rows. The roots should be set in the 

 spring as soon as the ground is in good working order 

 (they can be set in the fall, but the spring is the pref- 

 erable time), say about the end of April. The crowns 

 of the roots should be from four to six inches from the 

 surface of the bed. A heavy application of manure 

 must be made to an asparagus bed each fall — say 

 eight or ten cords per acre. This should be lightly 

 worked into the soil in the spring : a very light surface- 

 ploughing will accomplish this well, if carefully done. 

 Salt is an excellent thing to apply for a dressing, for, 

 although it does not act as a manure, as some people 

 think, it is a great help in keeping down the weeds. 



In cutting for market, the cut is made about two 

 inches under the ground, and pains are taken to have 

 the stalks about eight inches long. In preparing for 

 market a buncher is used, so that all bunches are of 

 exactly equal length and size. From twelve to twenty 

 stalks are put in each bunch, according to the size of 

 the stalks. They bring, on an average, about $1.50 

 per dozen bunches, still the price varies greatly with 

 different seasons and depends largely on the supply of 

 peas and greens that may be in the market. The 

 season for cutting usually continues about five weeks, 

 and the plants are then left to go to seed. In the fall 



