186 GARDEN GUIDE 



CULTIVATION OF THE CHIEF VEGETABLES 



The principles of fertility and culture, which have been covered in 

 the previous chapters, apply alike to all vegetables. 



ASPARAGUS 



This excellent vegetable may be grown from seed, but as it does not 

 come into full bearing until the third or fourth year from sowing it is more 

 satisfactory to purchase two-year-old roots. A hundred or two Asparagus 

 plants, well cared for, will supply the home table. Select well drained 

 soil in which to plant this crop, preferably one a httle sandy. Dig out 



trenches about eighteen inches deep 

 and three feet apart. Tread into 

 these six inches or so of manure, and 

 cover this with good soil to within 

 six inches of the surface. On this 

 prepared bed, during the late 

 Autumn or early Spring, set the 

 roots a foot apart, spreading them 

 out evenly. Fill the trench only 

 two- thirds or so at first, and work 

 the rest of the soil in until it is 

 level as the plants develop. Beans, 

 Beets, Carrots, Lettuce, can be 

 grown between the rows of Aspara- 

 gus during the first part of the 

 season. As the shoots or growths 

 develop in the Spring, a few of the 

 largest may be cut, but only for a 

 few weeks the first year. Cultivate 

 thoroughly, however, to get as 

 vigorous a growth of plants as 

 possible. Cease cutting when the 

 shoots become tough or stringy 

 (about June 24 in the latitude of 

 New York) and allow the tops to 

 grow, removing and burning them 

 in the late Fall. Then cultivate 

 the soil and apply manure or 

 fertilizer. This is to throw strength 

 into the crown for the early Spring 

 growth, as the succulent roots act as storehouses of plant food. 



Refugee Wax Beans 



BEANS 



Always select a warm and fertile soil if available. Avoid nitrogenous 

 manures or fertilizers near the seeds. As Beans will not withstand cold 

 weather, it is quite useless to plant before the ground is reasonably warin. 

 Bush Beans are planted in rows 24 to 30 in. apart, 13^ to 2 in. deep; thin 

 out to 3 or 4 in. between each bean. Good res ilts are obtained by planting 

 in double rows 5 to 6 in. apart. As the plants develop hill them slightly. 



