186 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



cuttings per week to prevent the heads from bursting, 

 which spoils it for market. ' ' 



There is variation in the demand for color in the pro- 

 duct. The local demand calls for a certain amount of 

 green; the canning demand is for white. To produce 

 good, tender, white asparagus it is necessary to cover 

 deeply and blanch the shoots by continued growth through 

 a thicker layer of loose earth, as has been described. 



Comparatively little asparagus is bunched in California, 

 the bulk of it being marketed in large boxes as loose stalks 

 which are both wholesaled and retailed by the pound. 

 For distance shipments the boxes are marked so that the 

 stems stand on their ends just as they grow, for they are 

 apt to bend out of shape if lying on the sides. For near 

 marketing in the height of the season the asparagus is 

 usually delivered in open boxes holding forty pounds or 

 more. Where bunching is Desirable, it can be neatly done 

 by putting the stalks point downward in a teacup, tying 

 the bunch, and then squaring off the butts with a sharp 

 knife. 



The asparagus season in California extends from Janu- 

 ary until June ; although later cutting is sometimes prac- 

 ticed, it is not, as stated, for the good of the plants. 



The Asparagus Rust. The disease made a vigorous at- 

 tack upon California asparagus fields about five years ago. 

 A careful study of the disease and experimentation con- 

 ducted by Prof. R. E. Smith demonstrated that the trouble 

 can be controlled by proper use of sulphur for the pro- 

 tection of the top growth after the cutting season. Full 

 information can be had from the University Experiment 

 Station at Berkeley. 



VARIETIES CHIEFLY GROWN IN CALIFORNIA. 



Conover's Colossal: an old standard variety; large ten- 

 der stalks of good flavor. Largely grown for the can- 

 neries, which use it almost to the exclusion of other sorts. 



Palmetto : widely grown in California ; claimed to be 

 earlier than Conover's, also more productive and uniform 



