THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 257 



ing season than to give manure when the bushes are cut, as at the 

 former period the roots can more readily absorb the food given. By 

 feeding in spring and summer the crowns are built up for the 

 next season's supply of grass. The roots of the asparagus are perhaps 

 always active, but much less so in winter than at any other season, 

 and they will obtain as much nutriment from the soil as they can then 

 use. If heavily covered with manure sunshine is excluded, growth is 

 checked, and the roots have to fight hard for existence at a time when 

 they are none too strong. 



In the culture of green spears the manure is best utilized by 

 broadcasting, this application to be followed by a thorough harrowing 

 of the field. When white asparagus has been cut, either manuring 

 in the trench between the ridges before disturbing them or harrowing 

 down the ridges and then manuring broadcast is perhaps the most 

 rational way. As between manuring in the row and between the 

 rows, the latter should be selected as the evidently advisable one by 

 which the feeding roots of the plants are most easily reached. Plac- 

 ing the manure in the row only reaches those feeding roots which are 

 to be found about midway between the crowns, as just around the 

 crowns are nothing but storage roots, besides it is not desirable to place 

 manure too close to the crowns, but manuring between the rows puts 

 the manure right where the summer rains can carry the fertility 

 directly down into the (as it were) open mouths of the feeding roots. 



Green Crop. If green asparagus is desired, the stalks need be 

 cut only so far beneath the surface as to furnish a 9 or 10 inch spear, 

 the major part of which, say 6 inches or more, will be green, and of 

 course above ground. If white asparagus is sought for, the rows will 

 have been ridged from 10 to 15 inches above the crowns, and the 

 spears must be cut as soon as they show at, and before they peep above, 

 the surface. This means cutting 9 or 10 inches below the surface. 

 To accomplish this, long chisel-like knives of various shapes are used. 



Cutting should be done at least every day, and when vegetation is 

 rapid twice each day will be necessary for white asparagus, and is 

 often desirable when the green sort is being cut. 



Harvesting and Marketing. Asparagus is one of the earliest 

 vegetables, especially if the roots are near to the surface or the soil 

 above them has been temporarily removed so that the rays of the sun 

 can easily penetrate to them. Some varieties are earlier than others, 

 and this difference in time of appearance varies from a day or two to 

 several weeks. For instance, the Early Argenteuil is about ten days 

 earlier than the ordinary asparagus grown in the same locality, and 

 the Late Argenteuil at least ten days later; so that there would be 

 nearly three weeks between the Early and Late Argenteuil. Among 

 the ordinary varieties, however, there is only a short period between 

 the earliest and the latest. (F. B. 61, 255; U. Cal. 165; U. Mo. 43; 

 U. Kans. 70; U. Miss. 1905.) 



BEANS. 



'Kinds. For convenience in reference and for discussion, beans 

 may be divided into two general groups "field" arid "garden" beans 

 which are by no means distinctly separate either in appearance or 



