34 VEGETABLE GROW ISO AV HEW SOUTH WALES. 



These are probably the result of differences of soil, climate, and culture. 

 Of the varieties grown at Bathurst Experiment Farm, Connover's Colossal 

 and Pride of Brunswick have proved the best. Erfurt Giant, Giant Dutch, 

 White Mammoth, and Camden Park have also been tried. Among market 

 gardeners the most popular varieties are Connover's Colossal, Palmetto, and 

 Barr's Mammoth. 



The Soil and its Preparation. 



Asparagus can be grown on a variety of soils, in fact any that can be 

 made into a good garden loam. It thrives best upon sandy loams which are 

 moderately deep and rich in vegetable matter. River-flat lands that are 

 moist and well drained are considered ideal. Heavy clay soils, and those 

 with a hard pan, or any that are cold and wet, should be avoided. Soils 



The root-system of a plant of Asparagus eight years from seed. 



containing stones are undesirable as they interfere with the cutting and 

 cultivation. As asparagus requires all the sun it can get, the land should 

 have a northerly aspect, and should not be shaded by trees and shrubs. The 

 crop responds well to irrigation. 



Soil which has been worked deeply, manured heavily with farmyard 

 manure for root crops, and kept free from weeds, is most desirable. The 

 land should be subsoiled to the depth of from 18 to 20 inches, unless it is 

 loose and friable to that depth : the old method of trenching to the depth 

 of 24 to 30 inches is not practicable in field culture, nor is it necessary. 

 Asparagus is a deep-rooting plant where the conditions are favourable ; the 

 roots of the 8-year-old plant in the accompanying illustration had gone to 



