184 — How to Make the Garden Pay. 



The market gardener, of course, has to comply with the 

 demands of his available market ; the home grower may consult 

 his own individual taste and preference. I will only add that the 

 bleached " grass," when poorly grown in hard, starved soil, is 

 poor indeed ; but under good culture, in warm, mellow soil, it is 

 a superior article. 



The preparation of the ground, setting the plants, and after- 

 culture, are much the same for both methods, except that the plants 

 are placed only three or four inches deep in one case, against 

 six or eight inches deep in the other. 



Distance of Plants. — The size and consequent market value 

 of the stalks is influenced more by the amount of space allotted 

 to each plant, than by any other single circumstance, and for this 

 reason I consider wide planting the only sensible and safe course 

 for the market grower. Some of our most successful gardeners 

 make the rows six feet apart, with three or four feet distance 

 between the plants. Even then the roots completely fill the soil, 

 and interlock between the wide rows. Planting at this distance 

 admits of cultivation both ways. The least distance that should 

 be given in a bed expected to yield fine large stalks for many 

 years is five feet by two, requiring between 4000 and 5000 plants 

 to the acre ; and nothing can be gained by planting closer. 

 Fifty plants thus set in good soil will furnish an abundant supply 

 of " grass " for a large family. 



Planting. — Plow out furrows in well-prepared soil, at least 

 five feet apart, and 10 or 12 inches deep, or if less, at least as 

 deep as depth of surface soil will allow. Then scatter a few 



inches of rich, well-rotted 



^-^ compost into the furrows, 



oPouNo.vmL ,t ,; ?^^^W fill in about as much soil, 



r'TMlW^v mixing this well with the 



manure, and set the plants, 



good, strong, one-year-old 



to be preferred, at least 



two feet apart, each upon 



a little mound of soil and 



Planting Asparagus in Furrow. with roots nicely and 



evenly spread, in the man- 

 ner shown in picture, and at such a depth that the crowns will 

 be about 7 inches below the ground level. Then cover with two 

 inches of soil, and another dressing of fine rich compost. As the 

 plants grow, and in the due process of cultivation by horse, the 

 furrows are gradually filled up level with the surface. 



After Culture. — The bed should be kept well cultivated, 

 and free from weeds. The first season same hoed crop, like 

 potatoes, cabbages, radishes, turnips, etc., might be grown 

 between the rows, but in that case the application of the fertilizer 



