198 CROP GROWING AND CROP FEEDING 



the young roots can be transplanted .as soon as the tops have ripened, but there 

 is no particular advantage in fall planting except that we are apt to be less 

 pressed by work at that time. The best time for making the permanent plan- 

 tation, North or South, is as early in the spring as the land can be worked. 



PREPARING FOR THE PERMANENT PLANTATION. 



While the early spring is the best planting time, the preparation of the 

 soil should be done beforehand. The best soil for the asparagus crop is a 

 mellow, sandy loam. A deep, sandy soil will grow good asparagus, but will 

 require more constant and heavier manuring on account of its leachy charac- 

 ter; hence, while a sandy soil is earlier and better than a clay soil, it should 

 be underlaid by a rather retentive subsoil for the best results, but it is im- 

 portant that it be thoroughly and naturally well drained. Land that has 

 been heavily manured annually, and cultivated in garden crops, is in better 

 condition for asparagus than a fresh soil, and it will be an advantage that it 

 has grown a crop of peas or clover the year before. These should be plowed 

 under in the fall, and the subsoil plow run in every furrow, so that the land 

 is completely broken 15 to 18 inches deep. If stable manure is' plentiful 

 it can be used liberally in this preparation. Then sow on the land a winter 

 cover crop of rye to prevent the leaching of the nitrogen, and plow this under 

 before planting in the spring. 



In planting run out furrows five feet apart, clean out as well as possible 

 with the plow and then with the shovel until you have trenches ten inches 

 deep, set the plants two feet apart in the rows and cover not more than two 

 inches at first, tramping the earth to the roots. As the shoots begin to appear 

 work the soil to them, always keeping the young, spindling shoot above the 

 soil, till perfectly level. At each working in of the soil, also once before the 

 cultivation begins and as soon as the planting is complete, apply 500 pVunds 

 per acre of the following mixture, until a ton per acre has been applied and 

 the land is level: Acid phosphate, 900 pounds; pulverized fish scrap, 600 

 pounds; nitrate of soda, 100 pounds; muriate of potash, 400 pounds. Keep 

 the plantation perfectly clean of grass and weeds during the entire season, 

 and finally plow the soil in a ridge over the rows in the late fall, after the dead 

 tops have been removed. The above mixture should be an annual application 

 as growth begins in the early spring. With well grown plants, set in this 

 way, some cutting may be made the second season, but should not be kept up 

 late; the rows should be kept well hilled up in the fall, and the cutting made 

 in the earth as soon as the shoots crack the surface. In some markets there 

 is now a tendency to wish green asparagus ; to produce this the roots should 



