64 ASPARAGUS 



As the reverse of this plan, M. Godefro}' Lebceuf, 

 the famous French authority, recommends " to clear 

 out of the trenches the soil which has fallen into them 

 from the sides of the mounds, and also remove from 

 above the stools a portion of that with which they 

 were covered at the time they were planted — say, to a 

 depth of one and one-half inches — so that the adtion of 

 the frost ma}' open the soil and that the rain may pene- 

 trate and improve it ; also that during the first fine 

 days of spring the sun may warm the surface of the 

 soil and penetrate as far as the stools. There is no 

 fear that the a(5lion of the frost should hurt the plants. 

 Asparagus will never freeze as long as the stool is 

 covered with a layer of soil one and one-half to one 

 and three-fourth inches in depth." 



If the rows are not less than four feet apart a crop 

 of some other vegetables may be raised between them. 

 Beans, dwarf peas, lettuce, beets, or any kinds which 

 do not spread much, are suitable for the purpose. 

 These by-produdts will help considerablj' toward pay- 

 ing the cost of cultivating the main crop, besides having 

 a tendency to keep the soil cool and moist, a condition 

 of no little importance to the asparagus. 



CARE DURING THE SECOND YEAR 



The treatment of the asparagus plantation during 

 the second j-ear does not differ materiallj" from that of 

 the first season after planting. The ground has to be 

 stirred frequently and kept scrupulously clean, and a 

 sharp lookout mu.st be kept for the advent of injurious 

 insedts. As soon as berries appear on the tops they 

 should be stripped off and destroyed, as the ripening 



