ASPARAGUS FORCING. 227 



years and six months has elapsed. The plants can be 

 forced in almost any place where a temperature of fifty 

 or sixty degrees can be secured, but the florist will gen- 

 erally utilize some of the space under his benches, or it 

 may be he has a solid bed or even a raised bed for which 

 he has no use for a season. The soil should be a rich, 

 sandy loam with arrangements for thorough drainage. 



For early cutting, they can be planted at the time of 

 digging, about the middle of November, while the bal- 

 ance of the plants should be stored in a pit or cool cellar 

 and brought in at intervals of four weeks, to give a suc- 

 cession. The plants should be set from six to twelve 

 inches apart, each way, according to their size, and 

 should be well wet down. For the first ten days after 

 setting, they should be kept rather cool (45 to 50 

 degrees) and given a chance to establish themselves. 

 Afterward, the temperature should be raised to 55 or 60 

 degrees, and if still higher it will aid in the forcing proc- 

 ess and should be given, if needed, for other plants. 

 During the day it can be run up as high as 80 to 85 

 degrees. The asparagus will use a large amount of water, 

 but unless it has had the chill taken off, and ample means 

 for drainage provided, it can do far more harm than good. 



In setting out the asparagus in the house, the crowns 

 should be covered about an inch, except in localities 

 where a blanched article is required, in which case, 

 unless they can be shut in from the light, additional 

 soil should be added. In about six weeks from the time 

 of planting, cutting can begin and will continue accord- 

 ing to the temperature and the strength of the plants 

 until they are exhausted. They can then be thrown out 

 and the space filled with others. If care is taken to secure a 

 succession, asparagus can be cut continually from Christ- 

 mas until the field-grown article is offered in the spring. 



Asparagus may also be grown in cold frames. The 

 plants should be set about one foot each way, and at the 



