178 VEGETABLE FORCING 
crop, especially if we learn how to force it more 
economically so that it could be sold at lower prices. 
Principles involved.—The large fleshy roots and crowns 
of asparagus are shown in Fig. 60. These contain suff- 
cient nourishment to make a good cutting of shoots 
without receiving any additional plant food from the soil. 
That is, if sufficient heat and moisture are provided, 
shoots will be produced for a period of four to six weeks 
when the food supply of the thick roots will be exhausted 
and they will be 
of no further 
value for fore- 
ing or planting 
in the open. 
When the roots 
are forced in 
the beds where 
they stand, this 
does not nec- 
essarily occur, 
for cutting may 
be discontinued 
before the 
Fig. 60.—A large root of asparagus suitable for crowns are 
forcing purposes. 
completely ex- 
hausted, and they will then recuperate in a season, ready 
to produce another crop. Roots which have been dug 
and moved to other locations for forcing are invariably 
discarded at the close of the forcing period. 
There is a difference of opinion among growers con- 
cerning the value of fertilizers applied to the forcing beds. 
Without any leaves or chlorophyll it would seem that the 
shoots would be unable to utilize any nutrients other 
than those stored in the roots, but some of the largest and 
most successful growers claim that positive benefits are 
derived from the application of commercial fertilizers and 
