ASPARAGUS 



165 



The sprouts are generally cut off about two inches 

 below the surface when they are about six inches high 

 above the ground. At this time all but two inches of the 

 asparagus is green, which is the right condition for most 

 markets. Some persons prefer to have white sprouts, and in 

 such cases the shoots should be cut four or five inches deep 

 in the ground. In case white sprouts are wanted it is also 

 a good plan to mound up around the hills or to cover them 

 with fine manure to keep the sunlight away from the 

 shoots. The demand for green asparagus far exceeds 



Fig. 65. Method of bunching asparagus, showing loose sprouts, a box for 

 tying up in, and completed bunches. 



the white, and is fully as good in quality. The time between 

 cuttings is largely dependent on the weather. In early 

 spring, if the weather is rather cold, the plants may not 

 give more than one cutting per \\eek, but later in the season 

 a good cutting will perhaps be made once in two days. 

 A severe frost will kill all the shoots above ground but 

 will not injure subsequent cuttings. 



Asparagus is marketed by tying the sprouts in bunches, 

 and the size of the bunches depends much upon the market 

 and, in some places, on the season and whether the supply 



