THK FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



The method of cutting varies with the demands of the market. If 

 " blanched asparagus " is required, it should be cut when the tops show 

 above the ground, and about 8 or 9 inches below the surface; this system 

 necessitates the earth being ridged over the crowns. In cutting, care should 

 be taken not to injure other ascending shoots. For " green asparagus," the 

 shoots are cut when about 7 inches high, cutting about 2 inches below the 

 surface. An intermediate method is to cut when about 4 inches high, and 

 about the same distance below the surface; the product is then half white 

 and half green. In this State green asparagus is the most popular. After 

 cutting, the stalks should be subjected to as little exposure as possible in' 

 the fields, and any dirt rinsed off. If the bunches are to be kept over night, 

 they should be dipped in clean water and stood on end upon clean straw 

 which has been thoroughly wetted. The bunches should be from 8 to 9 

 inches long, and tied with raffia, fibre, tape, or string. If for local market, 

 one string is sufficient; if to travel any distance, two are preferable. The 

 stalks should be graded into different qualities. 



Manuring. 



Asparagus, to be profitable, should be forced, and quick-growing succulent 

 shoots should be aimed at. To ensure such, the manuring must be liberal. 

 Large quantities of farmyard manure mixed throughout the lower layers of 

 the soil are not necessary, excepting when required to ameliorate heavy 

 soils. Fifty or sixty tons of well-rotted farmyard manure to the acre is a 

 fair dressing, and can be applied most economically after the stems are 

 taken off in autumn. It should be well rotted previously, to destroy seeds 

 of weeds. Applications of commercial fertilisers should be made in the 



Average bunches of Asparagus grown at Batburst Experiment Farm. 



spring, directly after the cutting is finished, and prior to cultivation. Ap- 

 plications of the following have given good results upon many soils; — 

 250 lb. nitrate of soda, 400 lb. superphosphate, and 150 lb. muriate or chloride 

 of potash per acre. 



Common salt is now but little used by commercial growers except to 

 control excessive weed growth. 



