CHAPTER XII 
ASPARAGUS 
Importance.—The forcing of asparagus has appealed to 
comparatively few American gardeners. It is generally 
believed that it does not offer special inducements as a 
forcing crop, and undoubtedly there are good reasons for 
this opinion. Statements may be found here and there, 
in the literature relating to the subject, that the forcing 
of asparagus is profitable, but it is seldom one hears of a 
grower who claims that he has made the venture a finan- 
cial success, or that he considers the crop especially 
promising for forcing. However, we must recognize the 
fact that asparagus is forced in a very limited way by 
market gardeners and private gardeners, and occasionally 
by the more extensive greenhouse growers, so that the 
subject deserves careful consideration. 
The forcing of asparagus in European countries, es- 
pecially in France and England, is an important commer- 
cial proposition. But climatic and economic conditions 
there are quite different, and it is most improbable that 
the same methods employed in the United States would 
yield satisfactory profits. The cost of labor in -this 
country would likely be more than the gross returns 
would justify. Excellent transportation facilities from 
the South and from California enable those sections to 
place an early crop on eastern markets at prices which 
can scarcely be met when artificial heat must be used to 
force the shoots. However, many private gardeners are 
always interested in the forcing of asparagus, and there 
is no reason why thousands of people should not force 
the crop for the home table. It is also probable that 
commercial growers may become more interested in the 
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