ASPARAGUS 179 
also stable manures. Voorhees held the sate opinion. 
When the roots are forced in beds which have full light, 
perhaps there is sufficient chlorophyll development on the 
shoots to be of some value in the elaboration of plant 
food. 
Light is not essential. The beds may be in total dark- 
ness, though subdued or diffused light is usually admitted 
to the beds. If white shoots are desired there should be 
practically no light unless the shoots are blanched by 
means of a 6 to 8-inch covering of soil or sand over 
the beds. 
Varieties —Any variety which produces large shoots is 
suitable for forcing. Inasmuch as the roots should be 
grown for four years before they are large enough for 
forcing, it is important to select a variety practically 
immune from rust. Much has been said about the merits 
of old varieties, such as Palmetto, Conover Colossal and 
Barr Mammoth, but recently Reading Giant, introduced 
by the Asparagus Experiment Station of Concord, Mass., 
is receiving much attention because of its freedom from 
rust and its vigorous habit of growth. There is no reason 
why this superb variety, or other equally good or su- 
perior, disease-resistant varieties, developed at Concord 
or elsewhere, should not ultimately replace the old, well- 
known kinds, both for field culture and forcing. 
Growing the roots or crowns.—Anyone who undertakes 
the forcing of asparagus should grow his own roots, 
whether they are to be forced in permanent field beds or 
removed to other locations where artificial heat can be 
provided. It is probable that the forcing of this crop 
would prove more renumerative if greater care were exer- 
cised in growing the roots. In too many instances they 
are dug from field plantations which are no longer profit- 
able because of their age or other unfavorable conditions. 
As a rule, the field plantations fail to return satisfactory 
profits because the roots were perhaps inferior when 
