2l6 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



formed. Voorhees and others believe that the plants 

 are benefited by early spring applications, especially if 

 green shoots are produced. On the other hand, we must 

 not lose sight of the fact that next year's crop is mainly 

 dependent upon this year's top and root development. Large 

 tops and strong roots mean heavy shoots next year. 



If seeds and plants have been selected intelligently and 

 all cultural conditions are favorable, the following treat- 

 ment should give excellent results: Apply 10 to 15 tons 

 of fine manure early in the spring, or probably with as 

 much benefit immediately after the cutting season; one 

 and one-half tons of a 4-8-10 mixture, half applied in 

 early spring and half immediately after the last cutting; 

 150 pounds of nitrate of soda by broadcasting as soon as 

 growth begins in the spring; 150 pounds of nitrate of 

 soda when the cutting season is half over; 150 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda at the close of the cutting season and the 

 same quantity one month later. 



Common salt was used in large amounts on asparagus 

 beds until quite recently. It possesses no fertilizing 

 value, and although it draws some moisture and is in- 

 jurious to weeds, its use is no longer considered an 

 advantage by successful commercial growers. 



278. Planting distances. When the most intensive 

 methods are followed, the rows are made closer together 

 than when the crop is grown on a large scale. It is held 

 by many growers that close planting necessarily results 

 in smaller shoots, but this is not the case with skillful 

 intensive gardeners. More space between rows is obvi- 

 ously required when high ridging is necessary to grow 

 the white shoots, although French producers of white 

 spears plant as closely as most American growers of 

 green shoots. Wide planting is also favorable to con- 

 venient cultivating, and plants and roots will not begin 

 to crowd so soon. Therefore the plantation should be 

 profitable during a longer period of years. On the other 



