CHAPTER VII 



ASPARAGUS 



IS one of the garden assets. Once established 

 an asparagus bed is good for a lifetime, al- 

 most; certainly it is a permanent feature of the 

 garden, showing little if any deterioration if well 

 cared for and kept free from weeds. 



The starting of an asparagus bed is not the 

 serious undertaking it was a few years ago, as 

 the deep planting then thought so necessary is 

 seldom practised now; instead it is thought sufii- 

 cient to open a furrow — with the plough, if the 

 planting is large, with the spade, if small — set the 

 plants and fill enough earth to cover the crown 

 of the plant, and, as growth starts, to gradually 

 fill up the furrow until the ground is level. The 

 ground should be of the best and heavily fer- 

 tilised before planting, for asparagus is a gross 



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