CHAPTER XLVII 



ROOT AND STEM CROPS 



IN this chapter I propose briefly to give a few cultural hints 

 on the growing of root and stem crops suitable for the small 

 garden. 



ASPARAGUS. Who that has grown asparagus successfully 

 would ever be without a bed or two of this most delicious of 

 vegetables ? Nobody, I should imagine. But if there are any of 

 my readers who have never attempted it let me recommend 

 them, if they have plenty of room and a good store of patience, 

 to try the experiment. April is the most suitable period for 

 planting. 



Supposing at the outset the intending grower determines to 

 confine his efforts to the cultivation of one bed of asparagus only 

 what should be his mode of procedure ? To begin with, he must 

 choose a site which will afford suitable soil. A low, damp piece 

 of ground ought to be avoided, since asparagus never thrives 

 in soil that is waterlogged. But ground which in the ordinary 

 way will produce satisfactory crops of deep-rooted vegetables 

 will be found not unsuitable for asparagus. 



The soil must be trenched to a depth of two feet if possible, and 

 the bottom section be composed of a mixture of the rougher soil 

 and farmyard manure. The second spit should be made up of 

 good soil, with which if possible some road scrapings, mortar 

 rubbish and wood ashes have been incorporated. Here again 

 autumn preparation of the soil would have been preferable, but 

 where this has not been possible let not the beginner be deterred 

 from starting his experiment in asparagus cultivation in spring. 

 The experienced nurseryman from whom you will obtain your 

 two-year-old plants will not send them in frosty weather, and in 



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