384 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



foliage has fallen. They may be kept in good condition until spring by 

 packing in barrels with a little moist sand or sawdust. The barrels are 



then covered with 

 straw and a few 

 inches of soil added 

 to protect the roots 

 against severe freez- 

 ing. 



The grower 

 should bear in mind 

 the fact that the as- 

 paragus plantation 

 should last at least 

 ten years; therefore 

 the soil should be 

 prepared with the 

 utmost care. The 

 land should be heav- 

 ily manured, plowed 

 and then harrowed 

 until it is thoroughly 

 pulverized. 



Planting distan- 

 ces vary greatly. If 

 blanched o r white 

 shoots are to be 

 grown, there should 

 be at least five feet 

 between rows, in 

 order to provide 

 plenty of soil for 

 ridging. If green 

 shoots — and they are 

 gaining in popular- 

 ity on American 

 markets — are to be 

 grown, four feet be- 

 tween rows will 

 provide sufficient 

 space for the use of 

 horse cultivators, 

 though many grow- 

 ers prefer a distance of four and one-half feet. Two feet between plants in 

 the row is the most common distance, whether white or green shoots 



1 Courtesy of Department of Horticulture, Pennsylvania State College. 



Bunching Asparagus Ready for Market. 1 

 It pays to grade to a uniform size relative to color, length 

 and size of bunches. 



