152 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



This is very essential, as the plants are tender when 

 young and many will be destroyed in the necessary 

 hand cleaning, even under the most favorable con- 

 ditions. Frequent cultivation and heavy fertiliza- 

 tion will force the growth, which is desirable, as 

 plants one year old are much to be preferred, be- 

 cause they better withstand the shock of trans- 

 planting than when older. 



" The soil is an important item in locating the 

 crop. Land that crusts after a rain is not desir- 

 able, for it will cause the loss of many stalks by 

 reason of crookedness. Therefore, light soil is 

 usually chosen, and wisely. Asparagus is a heavy 

 feeder and a generous supply of plant food will 

 usually bring good results. Farm manure does 

 much to keep the soil mellow as well as help feed 

 the plant, but it is not often possible to do more 

 than manure in the row. After the harvesting is 

 done, and as soon as the land is well worked, some 

 growers sow cowpeas to shade the ground, smother 

 out weeds and grass, and improve the land as 

 well." 



T. B. Lutes of New Jersey says : " The net pro- 

 ceeds from one acre of asparagus in a favorable 

 season should be $ioo. Some growers, however, 

 who have a retail trade can realize probably $200 

 an acre. It all depends on the variety, the demand, 

 and the man. We cut asparagus every day. The 

 fact is, it grows faster than we can cut it. At day- 

 light every morning we aim to be out in the field 

 cutting asparagus. The idea is to get all cut over 

 by noon, as it takes considerable time after it is 

 cut to get in shape for market. We cut white 

 grass, that is, grass grown in earth ridged up for 

 this purpose. In cutting three rows stalks are 

 laid on one row, then the picker-up gathers this 



