114 GARDEN FARMING 



root constitute the part of the plant used for culinary purposes. 

 The plant is known to botanists as Asparagus officinalis, Linn. 

 Botanically it is interesting because the true leaves are the scalelike 

 bodies closely folded against the surface of the fleshy shoots. The 

 fine divisions which appear later and simulate leaves are true atten- 

 uated branches, although they perform the office of true leaves. 



Asparagus is an important market-garden crop, and within the last 

 six or eight years has become an extensive trucking crop in Massa- 

 chusetts, New York, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, 

 and California. The light, sandy soils of the Long Island, Virginia, 

 and Carolina regions admit of planting the roots deep, thus in- 

 suring a high quality of blanched asparagus at minimum cost. As 

 a result of the extremes of latitude covered by these districts, a 

 succession of asparagus is provided for the Northern markets from 

 early in March until the end of June. 



Asparagus should be an adjunct to every home garden. It has 

 a wide distribution, growing well from Maine to Florida and from 

 New York to California. It is of comparatively easy culture, and 

 when a bed or plantation is once established it remains in good 

 producing condition, with moderate care, for a number of years, 

 varying from four to ten, according to the care it receives. 



Soil. Asparagus will grow on any soil available in the arable 

 regions of the United States. In fact it will adapt itself to a great 

 diversity of conditions. The one condition, however, under which 

 it will not thrive is that of extreme moisture. It will endure long 

 and protracted drought but will not endure being submerged. The 

 selection of soil, therefore, except for market-garden and truck 

 purposes, is of a minor consideration ; but a warm, rich, well- 

 drained situation should be selected if possible. 



The preparation of the soil is an important part of asparagus 

 cultivation. The soil should be thoroughly subdued, all noxious 

 weeds and shrubby growth being eliminated before planting. It 

 should be thoroughly plowed and subsoiled so as to give a seed 

 bed at least 14 or 15 inches in depth. The area should then be 

 laid off, according to the type of grass to be produced, in trenches 

 4 feet apart if green grass is to be produced, and from 6 to 8 feet 

 apart if white or blanched grass is desired. In the bottom of the 

 trenches the earth should be thoroughly loosened and liberally 



