33 



ing to a close sand at a depth of 3 feet or more. It is better to pre- 

 pare the field for the permanent bed one or two years before setting 

 the roots, by growing some crop that requires high fertilization and 

 thorough cultivation. The soil should, during this one or two years 

 before setting, be well filled with manure to a depth of 9 inches or 

 more, to stock the soil with humus, as all applications after the roots 

 are set will have to be on or near the surface. A soil well stocked 

 with humus will stand drought much better than one that is deficient 

 in humus. The year previous to setting the roots the land should 

 receive a hea^y dressing of lime, nearly 1 ton to the acre, or an even 

 heavier dressing of wood ashes, unless the land has received frequent 

 applications of either or both of these materials in recent years, in 

 which case a smaller cjuantity will be sufficient. Asparagus is very 

 sensitive to an acid soil and will not do well on it. 



The autumn previous to setting, plow the ground to a depth of 9 

 inches or more, if such a depth does not bring up too much of the poor 

 subsoil. During the winter or spring spread 10 to 20 tons of manure 

 broadcast, and in the spring, when preparing the ground, apply 

 broadcast what chemicals are to be used. Thoroughly wheel harrow 

 two or three times and smooth. Mark out the rows 4 feet apart and 

 get them straight, — the field is to be planted for twelve years or 

 more, — as much better work can be done in the care of the field 

 with straight rows than with crooked ones. Open the furrows first 

 with a swivel plow with two horses abreast, turning the furrows all 

 one way. Then follow with a large two-horse landside plow, with the 

 horses tandem in the furrow, throwing the earth the first time the 

 same way as the swivel plow threw it, and then coming back in the 

 same furrow, throwing the earth to the opposite side of the trench, 

 where no earth has been thrown. In this way the trench can be made 

 quite clean to a depth of 7 inches below the settled level surface with- 

 out any shoveling by hand. 



The roots are dug from the seed bed by plowing out with a large 

 two-horse plow, shaken out with forks, and taken to some building 

 where they can be separated and sorted, discarding all small and 

 poor plants. The plants are set in the bottom of the trench 2 feet 

 apart in the row, and covered with 2 inches of soil. The field is taken 

 care of during the first season by hand hoeing in the line of the trench, 

 working in soil a little at a time, so as not to have the trench filled 

 full before the middle of August or first of September, and cultivating 

 on the ridges between the rows with some cultivator that will not work 

 the earth into the trenches too fast. If it is thought worth while to 

 take care of the field by hand for a part crop, a row of beets, carrots, 

 parsnips, bush beans or some similar crop can be planted on the top 

 of the ridge any time after the asparagus is set. 



The beetles and slugs must be taken care of by the same or similar 

 means as those used on the seed bed, or if hens and chicken can be 

 kept on the field they will be a help. 



