206 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



than to climatic influences. This crop has been grown 

 successfully in all parts of the United States, regardless 

 of diversified climatic conditions. 



271. Soils. — Asparagus is grown successfully on a great 

 variety of soils. It is generally admitted, however, that 

 the deep, rich, moist, sandy loams provide the best con- 

 ditions, although alluvial soils are valued. In the large 

 plantations of Orange County, Cal., peat mixed with 

 sand has given excellent results. Shoots of enormous 

 size are produced in this region. But whatever the tex- 

 ture of the soil is, asparagus demands a liberal supply of 

 humus, good drainage, also an abundant and constant 

 supply of moisture. In a noted plantation of New Jer- 

 sey the water table is only 3 feet from the surface. With 

 this never-failing supply of water in co-operation with a 

 rich sandy soil the results are highly satisfactory. Sandy 

 soils are especially important for the growing of blanched 

 asparagus, because it is very diiificult to produce straight 

 shoots and also troublesome to ridge and cut under ground 

 in heavy, clay soils. Stones interfere seriously with the 

 growth of the shoots, prevent thorough tillage, make 

 ridging difficult and are especially annoying when cutting 

 the shoots beneath the surface of the ground. Southern, 

 southeastern and southwestern aspects are preferred by 

 experienced growers, because they produce earlier crops 

 than northern slopes. They also suffer less from drouth, 

 and the soil is not transported as much by driving winds. 



272. Seed selection. — The most successful asparagus 

 growers of the old world have for centuries practiced seed 

 selection. The experts of several hundred years ago may 

 have possessed limited knowledge of the laws of plant 

 breeding, but they evidently realized the importance of 

 careful selection, and knew enough to select seed that 

 would produce spears of enormous size. In the United 

 States the growers who far excel the average in net 

 returns to the acre invariably use selected seed, which 



