CHAPTER XII 



ASPARAGUS 



Importance. The forcing of asparagus has appealed to 

 comparatively few American gardeners. It is generally 

 believed that it does not offer special inducements as a 

 forcing crop, and undoubtedly there are good reasons for 

 this opinion. Statements may be found here and there, 

 in the literature relating to the subject, that the forcing 

 of asparagus is profitable, but it is seldom one hears of a 

 grower who claims that he has made the venture a finan- 

 cial success, or that he considers the crop especially 

 promising for forcing. However, we must recognize the 

 fact that asparagus is forced in a very limited way by 

 market gardeners and private gardeners, and occasionally 

 by the more extensive greenhouse growers, so that the 

 subject deserves careful consideration. 



The forcing of asparagus in European countries, es- 

 pecially in France and England, is an important commer- 

 cial proposition. But climatic and economic conditions 

 there are quite different, and it is most improbable that 

 the same methods employed in the United States would 

 yield satisfactory profits. The cost of labor in this 

 country would likely be more than the gross returns 

 would justify. Excellent transportation facilities from 

 the South and from California enable those sections to 

 place an early crop on eastern markets at prices which 

 can scarcely be met when artificial heat must be used to 

 force the shoots. However, many private gardeners are 

 always interested in the forcing of asparagus, and there 

 is no reason why thousands of people should not force 

 the crop for the home table. It is also probable that 

 commercial growers may become more interested in the 



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