VZ GARDENING FOE PROFIT. 



thrown on the top of the manure, and the Asparagus 

 planted as shown in the engraving, figure 14, and with 

 its crown six or seven inches below the surface level. 

 The plant is now only lightly covered up with the 

 soil, say two or three inches, until it starts to grow, when 

 the furrows are thrown in by the plow so that the whole 

 surface is leveled, which places the crown of the Aspa- 

 ragus some six or seven inches under the surface. This 

 would be, perhaps, four inches too deep in heavy soils, 

 but in light, soft soils it answers well. The first and 

 second seasons after planting no Asparagus is cut for 



. 14. MANNER OF PLANTING ASPARAGUS. 



market, as it weakens the roots, but in the third year a 

 partial crop is taken, although the beds are not considered 

 to be at their best until the sixth or seventh year. Their 

 productiveness may be continued for twenty years by this 

 wide system of planting, recourse being had to manuring 

 freely annually, by digging or plowing it in around the 

 roots before the crop has started to grow, or after it is 

 cut. 



GROWING ASPARAGUS FROM SEED, without trans- 

 planting, is a method now finding many advocates. It 

 is not only a much cheaper method, but in my opin- 

 ion it is the best method if the operator can have patience 

 to wait a year longer for a crop. The plan is very sim- 

 ple, and can be done by any one having even a slight 

 knowledge of farming or gardening work. Prepare the 

 land by manuring, deep plowing and harrowing, mak- 

 ing it as level and smooth as possible for the reception of 

 the seed. Strike out lines three feet apart and about 



