70 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



things May-bee tlegrubs, wiremorms, or cut- 

 worms can find food or warmth. The more 

 material of that sort that is worked into the soil, 

 the looser and fuller of air and the richer will 

 be the ground, the more the young roots will have 

 to feed on, the farther they will reach out in all 

 directions, and the sturdier they will become. 

 Thus prepared, let the ground lie until spring. 



As soon as the snow is gone and the frost is out 

 and the earliest gardening can be done, h^ve ready 

 the young year-old asparagus roots. Get them, 

 if possible, of a nearby market-gardener. You 

 may, of course, start with seeds, but that means 

 uncertainty as to variety and a year of unneces- 

 sary waiting; and two years are long enough to 

 wait before beginning to enjoy the results of 

 your labor. The delay caused by starting with 

 year-old roots instead of old ones pays well. Qld 

 roots do not transplant well, and two years should 

 be allowed anyway, in order to give the plants a 

 chance to get their roots well anchored and sturdy 

 enough for the shoots to be cut. A hundred roots 

 may do at first. 



Arrange the crowns right side up, being careful 

 not to break the rootlets. Place them far enough 

 apart to leave plenty of room for growth, 6 inches 

 at least and 10 inches below the surface, anyway, 

 because asparagus roots are bound to work 

 towards the surface. 



Do not let the bed dry out, and be sure to give 



