118 GARDENING FOE PROFIT. 



experimented with some scores of kinds in onr time, 

 there are two varieties more profitable to grow than any 

 others viz., the Jersey Wakefield and Early Summer, 

 which are grown in this locality to the exclusion of all 

 others. However, some kinds are found to do better in 

 some localities than in others hence, as in fruits, no 

 particular variety should be claimed to be universally the 

 best. 



ASPARAGUS. (Asparagus officinalis.) 



Asparagus being a hardy perennial plant, that may be 

 grown on the same ground for twenty years without re- 

 newal, special care is required in forming the beds in 

 which it is to grow. This is done sometimes by trench- 

 ing to the depth of two or three feet, mixing each layer 

 of soil, as turned over, with two or three inches of well- 

 rotted manure ; but for market purposes, on a large scale, 

 trenching is seldom resorted to ; deep and thorough pul- 

 verizing by the plow and subsoiler serving instead. The 

 soil best suited for Asparagus is a deep and rather sandy 

 loam, such as is often to be found on the borders of mead- 

 ows or on the margins of lakes or rivers land formed by 

 the washings of the higher grounds, and known as allu- 

 vial. This land, when clear from under water or from 

 overflow is by far the best suited for the growth of all 

 kinds of vegetables and is, from the nature of the plants, 

 particularly adapted for Asparagus or Celery. 



PROPAGATION. Asparagus is propagated by seed, which 

 is sown in spring, as soon as the soil will admit of work- 

 ing, which should be prepared by being thoroughly pul- 

 verized and enriched with well-rotted manure. The seed 

 is sown in rows one foot apart, and if kept carefully hoed 

 and clear from weeds, the plants will be in fine condition 

 to plant out the succeeding spring. Strict attention to 

 this will save a year in time ; for if the seed-bed has been 

 neglected, it will take two years to get the plants as large 



