VIII 



PLANTING 



r^ 



HROUGHOUT the Middle and Northern States, 

 spring, as soon as the soil can be worked to 

 good advantage, is decidedly the most favor- 

 able time for planting asparagus. If it is 

 not pra(?ticable to plant thus early, the work may some- 

 times be delayed up to the middle of June. In plant- 

 ing thus late, however, preparation has to be made 

 for watering the plants in case of drouth, else failure 

 be inevitable. It is also necessary to do the work as 

 expeditiously as possible, so as not to expose the roots 

 to the drying influences of the sun and wind. Fall 

 planting is advisable only in climates where there is 

 no danger of wanter-killing of the roots. 



After the ground has been plowed and harrowed, 

 or spaded and raked over, and brought into as mellow 

 a condition as possible, the rows for planting are to be 

 laid out. It is usually recommended to have the rows 

 run north and south, so as to readily admit the sun- 

 light. When this is not pracfticable, however, it need 

 not deter any one from making an asparagus bed, as 

 it is more important to have the rows run with the 

 slope of the land than in any particular direction 

 of the compass, in order to provide ready surface 

 drainage. 



