ASPARAGUS. 41 



harrowed in. The ground should be deeply and thor- 

 oughly plowed, and harrowed fine. Mark out rows 

 fifteen inches apart, about two inches deep, and sow tho 

 seed in them evenly and thinly as early in the spring as 

 the ground can be worked. If the plants are to be used 

 when one year old, thin to three inches apart as soon as 

 they are up. If not to be used until the second year, 

 they will not require thinning if evenly sown. 



As soon as the plants are up, use a twelve-inch push or 

 scuffle-hoe between the rows, and remove all weeds in the 

 rows by hand, and at the same time thin the plants if it is 

 intended to transplant them at one year old. 



About a fortnight after, use the prong-hoe to loosen the 

 soil. Keep free from weeds all the season. Let the stalks 

 remain on the bed until spring to protect the young roots 

 from severe freezing and to prevent the ground from 

 heaving. If the plants are not removed in spring, the 

 only attention required the second season will bo to 

 occasionally loosen the soil, and keep them free from 

 weeds. 



One pound of -seed will produce ten thousand plants. 

 The roots may be obtained from any nurseryman or 

 seedsman if it is desirable to save the time and trouble 

 of growing them. One-year-old plants, or those two 

 years, grown in good soil and not stunted, are the best, 

 though they may be used at three years old. 



Soil and Preparation* Asparagus can be grown in 

 almost any soil, but succeeds best in a sandy loam witli 

 deep surface and porous clay or sandy subsoil. It can 

 scarcely be made too rich, nor be too well prepared. It 

 is a rank feeder, and its roots penetrate the earth to a 

 great depth and in every direction ; therefore, the more 

 assistance given to the plant by thorough cultivation, the 

 greater will be the product. The land intended for an 

 asparagus-bed should be deeply plowed in the fall, using 

 at the same time the lifting subsoil plow, which should go 



