14 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



distinguished ; results with any of them depend largely 

 upon feeding, culture, and protection from pests and 

 diseases. It is claimed that the Palmetto and Argen- 

 teuil best resist rust; but all varieties are more or less 

 susceptible to the disease, and experiment stations are 

 now endeavoring to breed rust-proof kinds. 



Asparagus pests are not very troublesome ; they 

 should, however, be rigorously suppressed, as by weak- 

 ening the plants they make them less able to resist the 

 rust. This, a fungous disease, has of late years spread 

 alarmingly from section to section, until in places it 

 has almost exterminated the Asparagus industry. Its 

 control is now, however, better understood. In prac- 

 tice, there is no need to distinguish between the forms 

 of rust. 



Soil. Although Asparagus will grow on any soil 

 that is not actually wet or very stiff, it does best on 

 sandy soil, well drained. A heavy land should be 

 lightened by working in sand or sifted coal ashes; if 

 wet it should be underdrained. For its preparation, 

 see below. 



Permanent distances. The rows should not be less 

 than three feet apart; four feet is better; for field 

 culture five to six feet is convenient. Plants in the 

 row should not stand closer than eighteen inches; two 

 feet is better ; three feet is not too much. In fact, up 

 to planting four by five feet, Asparagus plants have 

 not too much space, and in a few years the roots will 



