84 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



about every third or fourth year, and plantations 

 treated in the way described will produce thousands 

 of shoots for fifteen to twenty years. 



As the clumps, " stools," or crowns of Asparagus 

 increase in diameter, the ridges between the beds 

 gradually diminish in width each succeeding year, 

 so that it becomes impossible sooner or later to culti- 

 vate other crops on them as during the first years 

 of forming the plantation. 



Argenteuil Asparagus. Argenteuil an ancient 

 town about six miles north-west of Paris has been 

 famous for centuries for its Asparagus plantations, and 

 in the twentieth century the industry is as active as 

 ever, if not more so. The methods of culture de- 

 scribed in the preceding pages are followed pretty 

 closely, but the Argenteuil growers have their own 

 system, which, however, differs only in detail. 



When starting an Asparagus plantation the site 

 chosen is first of all given a liberal dressing of manure 

 about 24 tons to the acre in the autumn months. 

 In February or March drills or furrows about 4 in. 

 deep are drawn from one end of the ground to the 

 other, 3 ft. and often 4 ft. apart. The soil is then 

 drawn up on each side so as to form ridges. Between 

 these the Asparagus crowns are planted in March or 

 April, i metre (39 in.) apart. A circular basin, 

 about a foot wide, is made, 4 or 5 in. deep, and in 

 the centre of it a little mound of soil is raised with the 

 hands. The Asparagus plant is then placed on 

 the top of the mound, the roots are spread out in all 

 directions, after which the crown is covered with 

 a few handfuls of rich soil and well-decayed manure 

 the latter often being night soil. During the 



