148 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



to the tying machines. The asparagus is sorted into two 

 grades called Giant and Common. The Giant includes noth- 

 ing smaller than one-half incli in diameter at the butt, while 

 the common takes all below this. This tying machine holds 

 the stalks tightly together by a clamp operated by a foot treadle 

 and the tier simply makes a knot of raffia about the bunch. A 

 good tier can perform this work for five or six bunchers. The 

 bunches are trimmed off with another machine and stood up in 

 a tank of water, where they stay for about five hours. By this 

 time they have become tight enough to stand shipment. Bushel 

 boxes are used to market the asparagus in thirty-six bunches 

 being packed in each box in layers of twelve. The asparagus 

 is carted into Boston during the night, and delivered to the 

 commission merchants, who sell it upon an 8 per cent, basis. 

 The price generally averages about $3.00 per box for Com- 

 mon and $4.50 for Giant. 



In the wide field of agriculture and horticulture is there not 

 a greater benefit and a deeper satisfaction to be gained than the 

 mere dollars and cents w'e may get from our orchard, farm or 

 garden? The result of a life devoted to Nature's calling in 

 the great out-of-doors, where man can live only in the truest 

 and best sense, surrounded by the fields, the woods, the birds 

 and the sky, should produce an effect upon us that would lead 

 others to try the experiment, and so in time the sordid life of 

 the city would not attract and a new life of happiness and con- 

 tentment would dawn for our people. Let us encourage as 

 much as we can this life in the country and not forget the ad- 

 vice of one most prominent horticulturist who said : 



"Then cultivate fruit, plant for yourselves; plant for your 

 children, plant for your neighbors away off in the distant cities ; 

 plant for the stranger that may come among you, plant for all 

 and let all enjoy earth's richest fruits without stint or measure." 



Discussion. 



A Member: How long after you set it out do you get a 

 crop of asparagus ? 



Mr. Wheeler : \\'ell. three years, as a general thing, but 

 we cut a little the second year ; from the seed it is four years. 



A ^Member : ^^'hat varietv do vou like best? 



