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VEGETABLE GARDENING 



Asparagus is one of the most valuble garden vegetables. 

 It is perfectly hardy, never fails to produce a crop, is one 

 of the first vegetables to be obtained in the spring, and 

 may be used until the middle of June. Perhaps no other 

 vegetable is more highly esteemed by those who are accus- 

 tomed to its use. It may 

 be grown with success in 

 any good corn land, but is 

 worthy of the best of care, 

 as it responds readily to 

 rich manure and high cul- 

 tivation. On sandy loam 

 the crop is much earlier 

 than on clay soils; wet 

 land is not suited to it. 

 Large quantities of aspar- 

 agus are grown in New 

 Jersey, New York, and 

 California, especially for 

 canning. The white varieties are preferred for this purpose. 

 Propagation. It grows readily from seed, and one 

 ounce of seed is sufficient for about fifty feet of drill, and 

 should produce with good care about four hundred plants, 

 though no particular care is necessary for success. The 

 seed should be sown in good soil early in the spring, in 

 drills which may be as close as sixteen inches, and 

 it should be covered about one inch deep. As asparagus 

 seed starts slowly, it is a good plan to sow radishes 

 or other early-appearing crop with it, so that the 

 rows may be seen and weeding commenced early. This 

 practice does not interfere with the growth of the asparagus 

 as the radishes will be ready for use and out of the way 

 before it needs much room. The seedling asparagus roots 



Fig. 63. Asparagus plant, full grown. 



