so GARDEN STEPS 



supply. Moreover, there is little to prove that the 

 asparagus root draws on the soil beneath it for much 

 of its food, when once started. The root spreads 

 chiefly not downward, but horizontally, and even 

 tends to work upwards, hunting for nourishment 

 and air. 



The French, who have attained great success 

 with asparagus, plan to feed the roots from above 

 each year. Progressive American growers, who 

 have started the roots with very little dressing and 

 increased the amount as the roots grew, have been 

 rewarded with such good results that they will 

 never again resort to the expensive plan of deep 

 digging and the use of a great quantity of dressing 

 when the roots are set. 



Growing from Roots. — Asparagus may be grown 

 from seed, but, as enough one-year or two-year 

 roots for the ordinary garden cost less than a dollar, 

 and save at least a year in time and a good deal of 

 labor, it is not worth while to grow from seed. 

 The sale of a fraction of the crop the third year will 

 more than repay the extra expense for the roots. 

 The roots should be set during the spring, except in 

 the South. In the northern states the roots are 

 not ready to transplant till after the growing season is 

 passed. They would make little growth if planted 

 then, and would be likely to die during the winter. 



Preparing the Soil. — For the ordinary garden, 

 the following plan should prove simple, inexpensive, 



