No. 4.] GROWING ASPARAGrs. 123 



the land apply chemicals supplementary to the manure, in such quan- 

 tities that the land will receive each year from 125 to 150 pounds of 

 nitrogen, from 250 to 300 pounds of potash and from 100 to 125 pounds 

 of phosphoric acid per acre. The chemicals used should be nitrate of 

 soda and high-grade tankage for the nitrogen, and ashes and muriate 

 of potash for the potash. Probably the tankage will carry enough 

 phosphoric acid to make the required quantity, with that from the 

 manure, but if not, use Thomas slag, bone meal or acid phosphate. If 

 ashes are hard to procure use more nuu'iat(! of potash to make up the 

 deficiency of potash, and use one-third ton of lime per acre each year 

 to keep the soil alkaline. 



The second and each succeeding year the land is prepared by the 

 use of wheel and smoothing harrows, no plow being used. The tops 

 or brush of the plants are not removed, but are broken down and cut 

 up by first using a cutaway harrow, driven with the driver riding. 

 Next, a whole disk harrow is used crossways of the former course of 

 the cutaway harrow, riding or not, as the texture of the soil lets the 

 harrow into it. The harrows should not at any time be weighted so 

 as to crowd them on to the crowns of the plants. Either before or 

 after the. second harrowing apply the chemicals, and harrow them in 

 with the wheel harrow, not riding it the third time. Then smooth off 

 with a smoothing harrow, but do not drag with a plank smoother or 

 roll with a roller. If, however, it is desired, for any reason, to plank 

 or roll the field, this should be followed, at as late a time as possible 

 to do it without injuring the new shoots, by another application of 

 the smoothing harrow, to kill all weeds that have started, and to 

 leave the surface of the field rough, to prevent the soil from drifting 

 in high winds and making the shoots crooked. The small pieces of 

 brush and other material should be left on the field. 



The field during the second year is taken care of with cultivators 

 and horse hoes, with but little hand work. 



Part of the preceding and what follows may seem like heresy to 

 recommend, but my faith in it is attested by my practice and results 

 for twenty-five years or more. 



Stop cultivation the latter part of August or first part of September, 

 and allow all weeds to grow for a cover crop and winter protection, 

 which, when harrowed in with the asparagus brush and the light 

 annual dressing of manure, will keep the soil well supplied with humus, 

 which will not be the case if chemicals are used without stable manure 

 and all top growth is gathered and burned. 



If in the second year the shoots come of good size and veiy strong, 

 they might as well be cut during the first week, as they are likely to 

 be injured by frost, and it will hurt the roots no more to cut them 

 than to let the frost kill them. The third year the shoots may be cut 

 and marketed, to about June 1, and then should be allowed to grow, 

 and kept free from weeds mitil the latter part of August. Although I 



