CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 217 



hand, wide planting materially limits returns for several 

 years, and for this reason there is some tendency to plant 

 closer and make new beds more frequently. 



Planting distances vary consideraljly in different sec- 

 tions. In the growing of white stalks, the average spac- 

 ing in England is probably i6 inches by 4 feet ; in France, 

 2x4 feet ; in Germany, 3^ x 4 feet ; in the largest fields 

 in California, 2 x 9 or 10 feet (on reclaimed land) ; in New 

 Jersey, 2 x 5 J^ feet ; in New York, about 2x5 feet. In 

 New Jersey green asparagus is usually grown 2 or 2j^ x 

 5 feet; at Concord, Mass., 2x4 feet; in Pennsylvania, 

 2 X 4 or 4^2 feet. An extensive grower in Philadelphia 

 County, Pa., plants 4x4 feet, while an intensive grower 

 at Cleveland, O., plants 1x3 feet. Peter Henderson 

 recommended 9 inches by 3 feet. 



279. Planting. — Fall planting is occasionally practiced, 

 but spring planting is universally regarded better. After 

 the ground has been plowed and thoroughly harrowed, 

 deep furrows must be made preparatory to setting roots 

 or crowns. If the land is steep enough to wash, the fur- 

 rows should run at right angles to the direction of the 

 slope ; if practically level, north and south will insure the 

 most even and perfect distribution of light on all parts 

 of the row. The depth of the furrow should be deter- 

 mined mainly by the natural depth of the soil. In Amer- 

 ica the crowns are set 6 inches to i foot deep, but 8 inches 

 is considered deep enough, although 10 inches may be an 

 advantage. Certainly, the crown should never be set in 

 the subsoil, where the fleshy horizontal roots would fail 

 to find food or proper physical conditions. Deep plant- 

 ing is regarded as important in the production of large 

 shoots, but the chief advantage is to get the crowns be- 

 yond the reach of tillage implements. As the new buds 

 form higher on the crown each year, deep planting, there- 

 fore, prolongs the time when there will be any interfer- 

 ence by tillage tools. The first shoots will not be quite 



