90 



ASPARAGUS 



Bunches varying from six to twelve inches in length 

 are received at wholesale centers, but the most con- 

 venient and popular size for a bunch of prime white 

 asparagus is eight and one-half inches long, averaging 

 thirty spears, and weighing two pounds. The side 

 view of one and the end view of three bunches of this 

 size of white asparagus are shown in Fig. 27. To 

 assure uniformity some ingenious contrivances have 





FIG. 27 — END AND SIDE VIEW OF PRIME WHITE ASPARAGUS 

 BUNCHES 



been invented, most of which are a great improvement 

 over the old-time bunchers, consisting merely of a board 

 with four pins, six inchee long, and placed about four 

 inches apart each way, to form a square. Two strings, 

 usually of bast matting, were laid down on the board, 

 which was set on a bench up against the wall, or had 

 a back made of another board tacked on it at right 

 angles. The asparagus was laid on the buncher be- 



