The Home Garden 



the soil. Heavy soils will be greatly benefited 

 by working sand into them, until they take on 

 a friable quality. Plenty of food is the secret 

 of successful culture, with the amateur. 



Asparagus can be grown from seed, or from 

 roots, which seedsmen furnish in one, two, and 

 three-year-old sizes. I would advise planting 

 roots, as you will get plants of cutting size a 

 year or two sooner than you will from seedlings, 

 and they will require less attention. Two- 

 year-old roots are best. 



Conover's Colossal is one of the standard 

 varieties for planting at the north. The Mam- 

 moth is very fine flavored, tender, and prolific. 

 There are several other kinds listed in the cata- 

 logues, but there is very little difference be- 

 tween them. Most kinds are good. There is 

 not so much difference in quality as in size. 

 As a general thing, the larger sorts are coarser 

 than those of medium habit, but good cultiva- 

 tion will make almost any kind tender and fine 

 flavored. 



Plant the roots in rows four feet apart, and 

 two and a half feet apart in the row. 



The crowns of the plants should be at least 

 six inches below the surface. In order to get 



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