148 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



sufficient moisture and assisted by judicious manuring, the 

 effect of wide planting upon the size and number of the sticks 

 is marvellous. In the districts around Paris where much of 

 the " giant " Asparagus /s produced which may be seen in our 

 best shops early in the season, the plants are set 4ft. apart in 

 each direction. 



Planting. When the plants are raised at home in the manner 

 previously described only strong healthy yearlings which have 

 three or four buds should be used, but when plants are pur- 

 chased it is better to get them two years old unless there is 

 some certainty that younger plants are strong and well grown. 

 Planting should be begun at the time when growth is just 

 beginning to show, at the end of March or early in April, a 

 mild day when the surface soil is dry being the most suitable. 

 In the line where the plants are to stand, a trench is taken out, 

 9in. wide and 9in. deep. On the bottom of the trench fine 

 mixed compost or old hot-bed manure is spread about lin. 

 thick, raised into a gentle mound about 4in. high at each station 

 for a plant. On each mound the roots of a plant are spread 

 out, so that the crown is about 4in. or Sin. below the ordinary 

 level, and the plant is at once covered up with 2in. of fine 

 weathered soil. When the whole of the trench is planted, 

 the soil is sprinkled with superphosphate at the rate of 3 cwt. 

 and sulphate of potash 1 cwt. to the acre, and it is then filled 

 level with soil and pressed down moderately. The proper 

 arrangement of the roots is one of the most important points 

 in the planting of Asparagus, as the ultimate success and 

 duration of the plantation depends very largely upon the 

 manner in which this is done. Most other mistakes may be 

 remedied by after treatment, but faulty planting it is im- 

 possible to alter. 



The roots should never be allowed to become dry or exposed 

 to parching winds whilst the work is proceeding ; only a few at 

 a time should be set in the trench before they are covered with 

 soil, the remainder being kept covered with a damp sack. 



When the planting is .finished put a stake at each end of 

 each row as a guide in cultural operations, and then rake the 

 ground level. As growth becomes active 2 cwt. nitrate of soda 

 to the acre should be given in two or three applications. 



