270 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



blanched " grass " is to be grown, a sandy soil is almost indis- 

 pensable. However, markets do not demand white shoots as much 

 as they did years ago. The green product is now preferred by most 

 markets as well as by the great majority of consumers. It is 

 possible, then, to grow excellent asparagus in any soil that is fertile 

 enough to grow a good crop of corn. Deep, sandy loams are pref- 

 erable, but if such soils are not available, use heavier types and 

 improve them as explained in W: 271. 



1. Do you have a suitable location for growing asparagus ? 



W-VG : 205-206. L:195. C:114. H:43. 



2. What is the nature of your soil ? 



3. What is the character of the soil in New Jersey where asparagus 



is grown largely for market f 



4. Why is sandy soil preferable for growing " white " grass and what 



is meant by this term? W-VG : 211. 



3. Selecting varieties. — Of the old varieties. Palmetto is 

 decidedly the best and should be planted in preference to Conover, 

 Colossal, or any other of the old sorts. In recent years, attention 

 has been called to new rust-resistant strains of superior merit, 

 developed at the Concord Asparagus Experiment Station, Concord, 

 Mass., and one or more of these strains should be obtained if 

 possible. Martha Washington and Mary Washington are among 

 the best. 



1. What varieties should you plant and what are your reasons for 

 selecting them ? 

 W-VG : 204. H : 17-22. Bulletins, Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



4. Starting the plants. — Success in growing asparagus de- 

 pends very largely on our ability to obtain the best seed of the 



