00 THE NEW HORTICULTURE. 



as noted above, in France they set from two to three feet 

 apart each way. In California and other parts of this coun- 

 try, they prefer to make the rows from four to six feet apart 

 and plant about sixteen inches in the rows, thus leaving room 

 enough to cultivate other crops between for a year or two, un- 

 til the plants require all the ground. The surface is kept 

 level during the summer, but just before growth starts in 

 spring a good-sized ridge or mound of soft earth is thrown or 

 drawn up over the crowns to furnish the necessary depth of 

 loose soil for bleaching the shoots, which is to be drawn down 

 level again after the crop is marketed. 



If it be proposed to save time, one or two-year-old plants 

 can be bought, the Conover Colossal and the newer Palmetto 

 seeming to be the favorite kinds, the latter claiming to be 

 somewhat the earlier variety. If one is willing to wait, four 

 pounds of seed will grow plants enough for an acre, and the 

 plants are easily raised. As for the immediate level coast 

 country between Galveston and Houston, I would recommend, 

 in addition to the above suggestions, that beds twelve feet 

 wide be thrown up finally, with wide and deep furrows or 

 paths between, and see that these open into a free outlet for 

 perfect drainage. It will be necessary to complete the work 

 with the spade, so as to make the beds sufficiently high. 

 There is no danger of hurting an asparagus plant seriously 

 with drouth, for its roots will easily penetrate to permanent 

 moisture. The nearness of that to the surface here makes 

 ours a natural asparagus country. The beds will then hold 

 two rows at six feet apart, with plants sixteen inches in the 

 rows, and should be planted not deeper than five inches below 

 the surface, in a shallow furrow, to be left open until they 

 become well established and growing freely, when the ground 

 should be leveled. Perhaps if the twelve-feet bed is full 

 high and well drained, they might be set the five inches depth 

 on the level at once, though the growth would be slower at 

 first. The distance of six feet between the rows will afford 

 abundant earth for placing loosely over the crowns every 

 spring for bleaching. It would be an excellent plan to pre- 

 pare the ground for strawberries, thoroughly fertilizing and 



