ASPARAGUS 81 



manured, and prepared for such crops as early Carrots, 

 early Potatoes, Dwarf Beans, Lettuces, Onions, and 

 even Cabbages. 



About the end of April or early in May, a few inches 

 of soil should be drawn up round each clump of As- 

 paragus shoots. As these are now numerous, it is 

 necessary to place a stake about a foot away from 

 the base of each clump, inserting it obliquely at an 

 angle of about 45, so that when the shoots become 

 long enough they may be readily secured to the stakes. 

 This not only prevents them from being blown about 

 by the wind, but also enables the thread-like leaves 

 (botanically known as " cladodes ") to be more fully 

 exposed to the sunshine under whose influence only 

 they can assimilate carbonic nourishment from the 

 atmosphere to be stored up in the subterranean 

 crowns. 



Hoeings and waterings are to be attended to as in 

 the first year during the summer months. In the 

 autumn the stems are again cut down within a few 

 inches of the soil, the stakes are taken away, and a 

 good dressing of rich soil and manure is spread over 

 each plant after the old soil has been scraped away 

 from the top of it in the way already described (see 

 p. 80). 



Third Year's Work. About the middle of March 

 an examination of the old stems sticking above the 

 surface of the soil will enable one to see which are 

 the stronger and which the weaker plants. A mound 

 of rich soil about 6 or 8 in. high is then placed over 

 those with the stoutest stems, as these indicate greatest 

 strength. The weaker crowns, with more feeble 

 stems, are not treated in this way, but are to be allowed 



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