178 



VEGETABLE FORCING 



crop, especially if we learn how to force it more 

 economically so that it could be sold at lower prices. 



Principles involved. The large fleshy roots and crowns 

 of asparagus are shown in Fig. 60. These contain suffi- 

 cient nourishment to make a good cutting of shoots 

 without receiving any additional plant food from the soil. 

 That is, if sufficient heat and moisture are provided, 

 shoots will be produced for a period of four to six weeks 

 when the food supply of the thick roots will be exhausted 



and they will be 

 of no further 

 value for forc- 

 ing or planting 

 in the open. 

 When the roots 

 are forced in 

 the beds where 

 they stand, this 

 does not nec- 

 essarily occur, 

 for cutting may 

 be discontinued 

 before the 

 crowns are 

 completely ex- 

 hausted, and they will then recuperate in a season, ready 

 to produce another crop. Roots which have been dug 

 and moved to other locations for forcing are invariably 

 discarded at the close of the forcing period. 



There is a difference of opinion among growers con- 

 cerning the value of fertilizers applied to the forcing beds. 

 Without any leaves or chlorophyll it would seem that the 

 shoots would be unable to utilize any nutrients other 

 than those stored in the roots, but some of the largest and 

 most successful growers claim that positive benefits are 

 derived from the application of commercial fertilizers and 



Fig. 60. A large root of asparagus suitable for 

 forcing purposes. 



