304 How THE FARM PAYS. 



against the side of this trench at a distance of nine or ten inches, care 

 being taken to firm the roots well with the foot. The plants should 

 be covered with about three inches of soil, and immediately after 

 planting the beds should be touched over with a rake, or, if on a 

 large scale, the brush harrow, which will destroy the weeds. This 

 raking or harrowing should be continued at intervals of six or eight 

 days until the plants start to grow, when the hoe or cultivator may 

 be applied between the rows and alleys, but the weeds that come up 

 close to the plants must of necessity be taken away with the hands. 



ASPARAGUS BUNCHED FOB MARKET. 



Another method, and which probably would be simpler for the 

 farmer to pursue, is to line out just as for turnips or mangels, the 

 hues being three feet apart, in which the Asparagus seed should be 

 sown about the first week in April by a seed drill, using at the rate 

 of six pounds to the acre. This would be less expensive than the 

 roots, both in labor and seed. In the beginning, in most cases it 

 would probably not be well to plant more than one-fourth of an acre, 

 but to be sure of getting a "stand," not less than two pounds of 

 seed should be used for a quarter of an acre, the seed for which would 

 cost about $1, while the plants for that amount of land would cost 

 at least $10, and there is more labor in planting the roots. 

 The advantage in using the plants, however, is that a year's time would 

 probably be gained, as the plants are usually from one to two years 

 old when planted. If the asparagus crop is to be grown from seed 



