ASPARAGUS 189 



Marketing. The spears should be removed from the 

 crowns with care, to avoid injury to buds or shoots that 

 may be starting. In loose soil it is an easy matter to 

 break them off with the thumb and fingers. In deep beds, 

 which are required to blanch the spears, an asparagus 

 knife will be found to be an advantage. 



Half-pound bunches rather than larger sizes are in most 

 demand. The price varies from 20 cents to 75 cents a 

 bunch. It is probable that satisfactory returns cannot be 

 realized at a price which is much less than 75 cents a 

 bunch. 



Well-managed beds will yield for a period of four to 

 six weeks. If excessively high temperatures are main- 

 tained the crowns become exhausted in four weeks or less. 



