282 



Gardening 



As the plant often 

 grows to a height of 8 

 or 10 feet, it is especially 

 effective as a hedge-like 

 screen (Fig. 160). 



ASPARAGUS 



This hardy perennial 

 survives severe winter 

 weather and yields crops 

 of fleshy young stems 

 very early in the spring. 

 The plant will thrive on 

 any good garden soil, 

 but prefers a rich, sandy 

 loam. The site chosen 

 for an asparagus bed 

 should be well drained 

 and so situated that 

 it dries out quickly in the early spring. 



Before the plants are set out, the soil should be spaded 

 deeply and abundantly manured. For the garden it 

 is best to buy well-grown roots one year old. Plant 

 either in autumn or in spring, rather deeply (4 inches be- 

 neath the surface), 15 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. 

 Make a trench or furrow 4 inches deep and set the plants 

 in the bottom, spreading the roots out horizontally in 

 all directions. The crown of the plant is thus buried 

 deeply, and is less likely to be injured when the stalks 

 are cut for table use. During the first year after plant- 

 ing, cut none of the young shoots for table use ; and cut 



FIG. 162. Cutting asparagus. The stalk 

 should be cut an inch or two below the 

 surface of the soil. 



