26 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Or steam pipes may be laid underneath or alongside the 

 rows. 



These methods are all for field -forcing early in the 

 spring. Winter forcing" is possible in houses tempora- 

 rily built over the plants, or by the method (of doubt- 

 ful profit) described in Farmers'* Bulletin No. 84. Here 

 trenches were made between the rows, covered with 

 manure and boards, and steam injected at intervals. 



Let forced plants rest for a year. 



Diseases. The rust, a fungous disease, is a serious 

 enemy to Asparagus over a widening area. Against it, 

 the plants should, first of all, be kept growing vigorously 

 by feeding well and by cultivation. 



Cultivation for rust is now considered a promising 

 remedy, and recent results point to its helpfulness. By 

 cultivating every week or ten days, the spores in the 

 ground are turned to the surface, germinate, and die. 

 With this method, summer mulching with manure is 

 impossible. 



Wide planting for rust is now suggested, so that the 

 sun and the wind may get at the plants and the earth. 

 Set the plants six by two feet. 



Burning 1 the tops is now discarded as a remedy for 

 rust. If the tops are cut before their fine leaves fall, the 

 roots will be injured by the loss of sap. If the leaves 

 are allowed to fall, they will put so many spores in the 

 ground that a few million more, from the stalks, will 

 make no difference. 



