Asparagus. 147 



very thoroughly prepared in the preceding autumn by bastard 

 trenching or subsoil ploughing and the addition of 15 to 30 

 tons to the acre of good manure, according to the class of soil. 

 If it is very heavy its condition would be much improved by 

 previously taking off a crop requiring manure and good culti- 

 vation, such as potatoes. The manner of planting should be 

 determined by the nature of the soil. Light and naturally 

 well-drained soils may be planted on the flat, but on heavy 

 retentive soils the results will be much better if the plants are 

 set on raised beds. 



In most sections where Asparagus is grown there are special 

 local customs in the matter of planting, though in all districts 

 some growers have their individual preferences, and amongst 

 all the leading growers it is gradually becoming recognized that 

 too close planting soon becomes unprofitable. It is possible 

 at first to get more bundles per acre from close than from wide 

 planting, but the sticks are neither so early nor so large ; the 

 whole ground soon becomes a solid mass of roots for which 

 both moisture and nutriment are insufficient, and after a few 

 years the shoots become gradually smaller and tougher, until 

 finally the plantation has to be broken up because it has become 

 unprofitable. 



Reviewing the various methods, for the production of an 

 ordinarily good sample and a lasting plantation, the choice 

 appears to lie between the following, and of these. the first is 

 the best : 



Single rows 4ft. apart, 2ft. between the plants ; 



Single rows 3ft. apart, 18in. between the plants; 



Double rows 4ft. apart, 18in. between the rows, and 18in. 



between the plants. 



Treble rows 4ft. apart, 15in. between the rows and 18in. 

 between the plants in each row, the plants in the middle 

 row being set midway between those in the two outer 

 rows, so that there is a space of almost 18in. in any 

 direction between all the plants. 



Where the production of extra fine stuff is desired the rows 

 should be 4ft. apart and at least 3ft. between the plants. In 

 in this case extra care should be taken in the selection of the 

 roots, and when this is done and the plantation is supplied with 



