THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 2OI 



and pushed it forward strongly. This action made 

 an almost perpendicular wedge-shaped aperture 

 just back of the spade. The asparagus plant, with 

 its roots spread out fan-shape, was sunk in this 

 opening to a depth that left the crown of the plant 

 between three and four inches below the surface. 

 Then the spade was drawn out, and the soil left to 

 fall over the crown of the plant. Rapidly repeat- 

 ing this simple process, the whole plot was soon 

 set out. The entire bed was then raked smooth. 

 The rows were three feet apart, and plants one foot 

 apart in the row. A similar plot could scarcely 

 have been planted with potatoes more quickly or 

 at less expense, and a good crop of potatoes could 

 not have been raised on that poor land with less 

 preparation. A few years later I made another 

 and smaller bed in the same way. The results 

 have been entirely satisfactory. I secured my 

 object, and had plenty of asparagus at slight cost, 

 and have also sold and given away large quantities. 

 A bit of experience is often worth much more than 

 theory. 



At the same time it is proper that some sugges- 

 tions should follow this brief record. The aspara- 

 gus bed. should be in well-drained soil; for while 

 the plant will grow on wet land, it will start late, 

 and our aim is to have it early. 



Again, with asparagus as with nearly everything 



