ASPARAGUS 71 



the weeds no chance to grow. Unless the season 

 is exceedingly dry, proper cultivation will provide 

 or save moisture and also take care of the weeds. 

 The motion of the cultivator will in itself prevent 

 the weed seeds from sprouting and so stealing the 

 food belonging to our young asparagus plants; 

 and, at the same time, the mulch thus formed will 

 save the moisture. These simple directions are 

 the guaranteed way for starting asparagus. You 

 may be sure of results. 



You will be patient; but there's the rub. The 

 young slender shoots are so tempting; but their 

 slenderness shows lack of sturdiness in the roots, 

 a necessity for a bed that will really be perma- 

 nent. Tops must be allowed to grow in order to 

 produce big sturdy roots. These, in turn, will 

 send up bigger and tenderer shoots every year. 

 So just be patient. Do not begin to cut for two 

 years. Hold fast to your resolution. Keep the 

 bugs away. Cut and burn the brown tops in the 

 fall and provide a heavy cover for winter. Then 

 be patient. 



Finally the long look ahead is over; the two 

 years are up; and we begin to enjoy our reward. 

 The usual spring care has been given and the big 

 stalks begin to appear. Cut them, one by one, 

 with a sharp knife, below the surface. Do not 

 sacrifice two or three beneath the surface just 

 to get the one in sight. Cut carefully and leave 

 soil over the place where the stalk is cut. Some- 



