130 ASPARAGUS AND RHUBARB. 



kept up until all danger of frost is past, when the canvas 

 is removed and the plants grow naturally out of doors. 

 It is probable that some such plan as this will be found 

 to be perfectly practicable in the forcing of asparagus and 

 rhubarb, and thus obviate the wasteful methods now in 

 use of forcing and destroying transplanted roots. The 

 secret of this method will no doubt be found to lie in 

 allowing the plantation to become very thoroughly es- 

 tablished (at least three or four years old) before forc- 

 ing is attempted, in the very best tillage and fertilizing 

 during the summer whilst the plants are growing, in tak- 

 ing off the cover just as soon as settled weather comes, 

 and in not cutting the plants after that time. 



ASPARAGUS. 



The most essential point in the forcing of asparagus 

 from transplanted roots, is to have very strong roots. 

 They should not be less than four years old from the 

 planting of the bed, and five and six-year roots are com- 

 monly better. It is often almost impossible to secure 

 good roots, for the best roots are the ones which the 

 asparagus grower most desires to keep in his plantation. 

 The two circumstances which yield the best roots, as a 

 rule, are the growing of the plantation for this particular 

 purpose, and the taking out of alternate rows in planta- 

 tions which have become too crowded. The grower is 

 often obliged to take the roots from old and partially 

 spent beds, but the best results are not always secured 

 from such stock. 



The roots are dug as late in the fall as possible, care 

 being taken not to break the clumps, and to retain as 

 much soil as possible, and they are then piled in a shed 

 or cold cellar where they can be had as wanted. In this 

 storage, they should be covered with earth or litter to 

 prevent them from drying out, and freezing is supposed 

 to add to their value for forcing. 



