ASPARAGUS. 59 



mulch of manure, both claiming that their respective methods 

 make the largest stalks ; and it must be remembered with 

 this crop that both its eating and market value increase very 

 rapidly with the size and beauty of the individual shoots. 

 The French plant the roots about two feet apart each way, 

 and rather shallow, on deeply dug and very rich ground. 

 They then manure heavily and repeatedly, to furnish a loose 

 surface soil, to force an abnormally large, quick growth. 

 Americans recommend planting the crowns six inches deep to 

 escape drought, and both parties are very particular to advise 

 the old fallacy of spreading out the roots. This may be one 

 of the causes of its failure to make as large shoots here as 

 elsewhere, for it has enormous roots, and if all have been 

 spread out as directed, there is little wonder if the plants 

 lacked vigor enough to develop strong, thick stems. By all 

 means root-prune this plant very closely, for it is a difficult 

 thing to kill if you try ; but it must have deep, strong roots 

 and plenty of moisture to sustain the forced growth that is 

 demanded of it. Both nations agree that any good garden 

 soil will do, but it must be light and loamy on top for at least 

 six or eight inches, to allow the shoots to push readily through, 

 and also to facilitate breaking off from the crowns. It is 

 claimed that cutting injures other young shoots often, and 

 also leaves a short stump, from which smaller sprouts spring 

 and exhaust the plant. In gathering, the loose soil is gently 

 drawn away and the shoot selected, bent over and broken 

 squarely off from the crown. The hole is filled with a move- 

 ment of the hand, and so on over the patch. Many, how- 

 ever, still adhere to the old plan of cutting. Both nations 

 are fully agreed on the importance of perfect drainage, the 

 crop maturing, as it does so early, while the ground is cold ; 

 therefore well drained soil is a necessity for rapid growth. 

 Both also agree on a deep, rich plant-bed, down below the 

 crown. On high, well drained upland, it would be best, 

 they say, to plow very deep, manure heavily, and apply at 

 least three tons of salt per acre, in addition to other manures. 

 It must be remembered that this is a saline plant, and per- 

 fectly at home along the sea coast marshes. As to distance, 



