THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 303 



The late crop may follow peas, onions, or early pota- 

 toes. Sow just before a shower. Make the soil fine and 

 scatter the seeds broadcast, raking them into the soil. 



Culture. Cultivate the early varieties like any other 

 root crop. The late kinds will need no cultivation, except 

 that it may be necessary to pull troublesome weeds as 

 they make their appearance. 



Diseases. Rotate to guard against clubroot. The flat 

 varieties that grow mostly above the ground are not 

 troubled with this disease as much as the deeper-growing 

 varieties. 



Pests. For root maggot, dress heavily with tobacco 

 dust or with unleached wood ashes after sowing. For 

 flea beetle use Bordeaux mixture, arsenate of lead, or 

 kerosene emulsion. 



ASPARAGUS 



With proper care a bed of asparagus may last from 

 fifteen to twenty years. It should be kept at one side 

 of the garden, where it will not interfere with plowing 

 and the cultivation of annual crops. Low-growing crops, 

 such as radishes, lettuce, and carrots, may be grown 

 between the rows the first and second years. 



Soil. The soil must be well drained, rich, and light. 

 Sandy soil heavily manured will grow good asparagus. 



Growing roots from seeds. Sow the seeds in the spring 

 the earlier the better, after the frost is out of the 

 ground. Soak the seeds overnight before planting. Place 

 them an inch apart, in drills eighteen inches apart, and 



