294 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



grown that will furnish so large a return with so little labor., 

 and it is in use in advance even of early peas, and at a season 

 when the scarcity of other vegetables makes it of great value. 

 A bed properly planted will last a life-time. If only enough 

 for family use is wanted, buy the plants, as in this way a year's 

 time will be saved, but if you wish to plant largely for market, 

 grow your own plants. Sow the seed in shallow drills, far enough 

 apart so that you can work with a narrow cultivator, and thin 

 so as to have them grow stocky. Give thorough cultivation and 

 they will be large enough to transplant at one year old. One 

 thousand or more good plants can be grown on a square rod. 



For family use plant a row or two at the side of the garden. 

 Plow the land deep as you can. It is best often to plow out a 

 deep dead furrow, and coat it liberally with manure, and then 

 plow back the earth till it is level. Set the plants two feet 

 apart in the row and four inches below the surface, spreading 

 out the roots evenly in all directions. For an ordinary family, 

 a row ten rods long will be sufficient, but if the family is large, 

 double the amount. If two rows are planted, set them four feet 

 apart. Cover the row heavily with manure every fall, and as 

 early in the spring as the land can be worked, fork off the ma- 

 nure and cultivate the rows thoroughly and then replace it. The 

 plant is perfectly hardy and will not be killed by the hardest 

 freezing, but it will start earlier and make a stronger growth if 

 well protected through the winter. 



The secret of large, tender shoots is plenty of manure, clean 

 culture, and sufficient distance between the plants. Salt may be 

 used on the bed in sufficient quantities to kill weeds, and will 

 be of benefit to the asparagus. Cut sparingly the second 

 spring, and after that it should be kept cut close till about the 

 first of June. At the last cutting work thoroughly. The tops 

 should not be removed in the fall till fully ripe. For field cul- 

 ture I would recommend that it be planted three by four feet 

 apart and worked with a horse both ways. This crop is very 

 salable, and bears shipping and handling well, and is very profit- 

 able where a market can be had for it. Peter Henderson says : 

 "It is safe to say that in the vicinity of New York the net 



