1478 Tur VecrtaBLte Inpustry In New Yor State 
as the crop is gathered, sow the land to some cover crop — crim- 
son clover, if it will grow. If in a locality where none of the 
legumes can be grown, sow to oats or barley, but not rye, as the 
latter makes too much trouble in fitting the soil the following 
spring. 
Sometime during the winter, prior to setting the plants, broad- 
cast the area with yard or stable manure, using twelve to fifteen 
tons per acre. As early as possible plow as deep as soil will per- 
mit, turning everything under, harrow and mark off in rows five 
and one-half feet apart using a good two-horse turning plow, and 
then go each way in the same furrow making it as deep as the 
soil will permit, but do not go more than one inch into the subsoil. 
In the bottom of the furrow set the plants. 
SETTING THE YOUNG BED 
The young crowns should first be sorted and all small and weak 
speciments thrown out. Second, a sharp lookout should be kept for 
any individuals that have numerous eyes or bud fully developed, 
and they also should be cast out. A plant with that characteristic 
will always do the same, that is, produce numerous but small 
shoots. 
Have a good lively boy to drop the plants and have him drop 
them on the inside edge of the plow furrow. Then let the setter 
grasp the plant by about one-half of the roots and place his thumb 
on the buds; straighten out the other half of the roots; place 
the plant on the solid bottom of the trench and cover with about 
two inches of soil; step forward with one foot on either side of 
the plant just set, which firms the soil. Place the next plant 
twenty inches distant and continue. Some growers plant as close 
in the row as fifteen or sixteen inches, while others claim two 
feet the proper distance. It resolves itself down to this: the nar- 
row distance gives a crop earlier in the life of the bed but makes 
it shorter lived. The farther apart the plants are set the longer 
the life of the bed —all other things being equal. Some early 
hoed crop like peas, beans, carrots, ete., may be grown between the 
rows of asparagus the first season but not after. No manure should 
be used under the young plants because they live and start bet- 
ter on a solid bottom, and because it induces mice to harbor un- 
der it and destroy numerous plants. 
