178 GARDEN PROFITS 



The Asparagus Bed. Give two applications of 

 salt during May (I use 500 lbs. on a plot 60 x 180 

 ft.); this will keep down the growth of weeds and 

 the asparagus is benefited. Apply this just before, 

 or during a rain, run the cultivator over the bed two 

 or three times during the month, and exercise a little 

 caution in cutting, and your bed will keep a-going. 

 In cutting, don't jab a knife through the crown, as 

 that splits it into small pieces and causes the shoots 

 to become smaller. 



One of the best forms of asparagus knife 

 has a V-shaped edge. Insert it close to the 

 stalk you want, and don't stab the crown 



Rhubarb. If rhubarb is thin or stringy it needs 

 attention. Seed pods persistently appearing is 

 also an equal assurance that next fall the plants 

 should be divided and reset. Cut off the seed pods 

 as soon as they appear; but don't cut the shoots, 

 or rather leaves — pull them off with a . downward 

 jerk. 



To Hill or Not- to Hill? There are several reasons 

 for hilling vegetables. In some cases it keeps 

 plants from blowing over; it also tends to get the 

 roots deeper, where they are not so liable to be af- 

 fected by dry weather; with other vegetables it is 

 done to blanch the stalks, the better to fit them for 

 table use. But don't hill too deeply. Judgment 

 is necessary, as no hard rule can be fixed, the depth 



