FIELD PLANTING OF ASPARAGUS. 181 



field, the experience of two prominent large-scale growers 

 is given. First, the method of Mr. William Boots, one of 

 the old line asparagus growers on the alluvial lands of the 

 Santa Clara valley : 



' ' Next March (for I think March the best month to plant 

 in, all else being equal) choose a good piece of land, the 

 very best is none too good, and plow just as deep as you 

 can. I plow with four good horses on a single plow, and 

 plow one foot deep, getting the land in as good condition 

 as possible. Take a good team and draw furrows where 

 the rows are wanted, going twice in the same place, just 

 as deep as we can get the plow to run, throwing the furrow 

 each way, making the distance six feet between rows. 

 Then carefully take up the plants, carefully separate them, 

 for if they have been very closely grown they will cling 

 together ; spread out the roots as you plant them, clearing 

 away all clods or anything that may hinder the growth. 

 Plant not closer than three feet between plants in the 

 rows. For field planting for the market, by all means do 

 not plant closer than seven feet between the rows, and 

 three feet apart in the rows; for if there is a plant that 

 delights in plenty of room and air it certainly is asparagus. 

 Cover the plants about two inches deep, and during the 

 summer cultivation the pulverized earth will drop into the 

 ditches, and by the time the season's cultivation is over 

 the ditches or furrows will be nearly full, which finishes 

 the first year in the field. ' ' 



Another method is that approved by S. J. Murdock, on 

 the peat lands of Orange county : 



"The rows should be four feet apart and the plants 

 eighteen inches from each other in the rows, and even 

 more room would be better if the land is not too valuable. 

 After the ground is well plowed and finely harrowed, mark 

 out the rows the desired distance apart with a plow by 

 going twice in each row, throwing a furrow each way from 

 the center of the row, and from eight to twelve inches 

 deep ; then go one or more rounds in this with a cultivator, 

 closed up, so as to loosen up the soil well in the bottom of 



