ASPARAGUS 179 



also stable manures. Voorhees held the same opinion. 

 When the roots are forced in beds which have full light, 

 perhaps there is sufficient chlorophyll development on the 

 shoots to be of some value in the elaboration of plant 

 food. 



Light is not essential. The beds may be in total dark- 

 ness, though subdued or diffused light is usually admitted 

 to the beds. If white shoots are desired there should be 

 practically no light unless the shoots are blanched by 

 means of a 6 to 8-inch covering of soil or sand over 

 the beds. 



Varieties. Any variety which produces large shoots is 

 suitable for forcing. Inasmuch as the roots should be 

 grown for four years before they are large enough for 

 forcing, it is important to select a variety practically 

 immune from rust. Much has been said about the merits 

 of old varieties, such as Palmetto, Conover Colossal and 

 Barr Mammoth, but recently Reading Giant, introduced 

 by the Asparagus Experiment Station of Concord, Mass., 

 is receiving much attention because of its freedom from 

 rust and its vigorous habit of growth. There is no reason 

 why this superb variety, or other equally good or su- 

 perior, disease-resistant varieties, developed at Concord 

 or elsewhere, should not ultimately replace the old, well- 

 known kinds, both for field culture and forcing. 



Growing the roots or crowns. Anyone who undertakes 

 the forcing of asparagus should grow his own roots, 

 whether they are to be forced in permanent field beds or 

 removed to other locations where artificial heat can be 

 provided. It is probable that the forcing of this crop 

 would prove more renumerative if greater care were exer- 

 cised in growing the roots. In too many instances they 

 are dug from field plantations which are no longer profit- 

 able because of their age or other unfavorable conditions. 

 As a rule, the field plantations fail to return satisfactory 

 profits because the roots were perhaps inferior when 



