X 



FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZING 



SPARAGUS is a gross feeder. There is hardly 



another plant in cultivation upon the vitality 



of which so great a demand is made. The 



cutting of all its sprouts, or shoots, as soon as 



they appear above the ground, for several weeks, is 



■ '''^ly abnormal and enormous tax upon the plant, which 



^^ '^"^'Sius forced to extra exertion in order to reproduce 



;-; "; 'litselif and perpetuate its kind. Therefore, it should 



S^'i^^^nave the most tender care, and an abundance of nour- 



: ishing and readily available food. The earliness, ten- 



' derness, size, and commercial value of the product 



depends principally on the rapidity of its growth, and, 



as this is materiall}^ promoted by the richness of the 



soil, it is evident that the plants should receive all the 



food they can assimilate during the growing season. 



There is a wide difference of opinion among grow- 

 ers as to which is the best kind of manure to use. 

 Whatever the individual preferences may be, there is 

 this satisfadlion to know that no kind of plant food 

 can come amiss on the asparagus bed, although the 

 use of some kinds and combinations may be more 

 economical than others. Formerly animal manures 

 only were thought to be of any use for asparagus, and 

 there are still some growers who cling to this opinion. 

 In recent years, howevei, there has been a decided 

 readlion in this regard in some of the principal aspar- 



