7 I'M THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



and well drained are considered ideal. Heavy clays, and those with a hard- 

 pan, or any that are cold and wet, should be avoided. Soils 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 nor- 

 therly aspect, and should not be shaded by trees and shrubs. It responds 

 well to irrigation. 



Soil which has been worked deeply and 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 

 the depth of 4 feet 4 inches. The land should be thoroughly worked during 

 the autumn and left to mellow during the winter, when it should be again 

 ploughed and drilled ready for the reception of the roots in the early spring. 



The raised-bed method, as generally practised in garden culture, is not to 

 be recommended under Australian conditions, and is only permissible where 

 an abundance of moisture is ensured. The flat field culture has much to 

 recommend it. 



Raising the Plants. 



Fresh seed should be sown in the spring in well prepared soil, in rows 

 about 2 feet apart and about 4 or 5 inches in the drill. The seed germi- 

 nates slowly, and if soaked in warm water for twenty-four hours germina- 

 tion will be hastened. Cover about 1 inch deep. The land should be well 

 worked and kept free from weeds. By liberal treatment vigorous yearlings 

 are produced. In setting out care should be taken not to expose the roots 

 to the sun or drying winds. It should be done just prior to their new 

 growth in the spring. 



Only vigorous plants should be used. Select those that have the thickest, 

 most succulent, and vigorous stems. Choose tall rather than shrubby plants. 

 Vigorous yearlings are much to be preferred, but if 2-year-old plants are 

 used, only those with imperfect flowers which do not bear seed should be 

 selected. Seed-bearing is exhausting. 



Planting Out. 



As the beds or fields will, -with proper care, last a life-time, it is im- 

 portant that the planting out be done carefully, and sufficient room be left 

 for root expansion. In rich, moist soils the plants should be drilled 4 feet 

 apart each way, and the roots set in their intersections. In light soils 

 they may profitably be planted 5 feet each way. This allows of cultivation 

 both ways, which is a consideration in the eradication of weeds and con- 

 servation of moisture. The drills should be opened out about 9 inches 

 deep and the roots set in the bottom, care being taken to keep the crown 

 upward, and to spread the roots in their natural positions. The crowns 

 should then be covered by 2 or 3 inches of soil. If " blanched asparagus " is 

 required the crowns should be placed about 8 inches below the surface: if 

 " green asparagus " they should be planted shallower. The natural growth 

 of the crown forces it towards the surface, and the original depth can be 

 maintained by applications of abundance of farmyard manure. The drills 

 are levelled by cultivating towards the plants. 



