CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 221 



sequently the depth of cutting under ground must be 

 regulated by market demands. White "grass" is cut 

 just as soon as the tips appear. Green "grass" may be 

 cut at the ground or there may be a compromise, cutting 

 2 to 4 inches below the surface. Many growers who 

 claim they are selling the green product are really offer- 

 ing a compromised article. 



In very cool weather it may not be necessary to cut 

 more than twice a week, but when the season is well 

 advanced and the weather is warm, this work must be 

 attended to daily and sometimes twice a day to prevent 

 loss. It is a general practice to cut late on Saturday 

 afternoon in order to avoid Sunday cutting. The cutting 

 of Saturday is bunched and placed in shallow trays con- 

 taining about ^2 inch of water. In this way it may be 

 kept in perfect condition until Monday morning when it 

 is sent to market. Every shoot, large and small, is cut 

 unless some are reserved for seed purposes or for lure 

 plants, on which poison is placed to destroy beetles. 



The shoots after being cut are usually placed on piles 

 and then collected in baskets or in carts. Some growers 

 believe that time is saved by placing the shoots as fast as 

 cut in strong, flat baskets which may be collected rapidly 

 and hauled to the packing house. These baskets hold 

 from 8 to 10 pounds. The actual cost of cutting in an 

 i8-acre field in New Jersey averaged 1^2 cents a bunch. 



282. Marketing. Asparagus shoots may be washed 

 before or after bunching. Although both methods have 

 their advocates, it is pleasanter to handle the washed 

 stalks, and cleaning may be done more thoroughly be- 

 fore bunching. Careful grading is of greater importance 

 than with most other garden crops. Most growers make 

 three grades; namely, extra, prime, and second, while a 

 fourth (culls) makes it possible to grade more perfectly. 



Special devices known as "bunchers" are in general 

 use. The bunches vary from 6 to 9 inches in length and 



