91 r PERENNIAL 



° CROPS 



the second season. The shoots are blanched 

 either by covering the crowns with fine, loose 

 soU for a foot or even more, in the early spring, 

 or by covering the crowns with a box and allow- 

 ing the shoots to grow up in the dark. 



After the young shoots have been picked off, 

 the plants are allowed to grow as they will; for, 

 like asparagus and rhubarb, the vigor, size and 

 yield of the next season depend upon this sea- 

 son's growth of leaf and root. It flourishes 

 best in deep, rich and rather moist soil. The 

 plants should not be less than three feet apart 

 each way, and they are much benefited by an 

 a,utumn dressing of light manure or straw. 



