20 Perennial Crops 



ASPAEAGTJS 



, Asparagus is grown for the strong soft young shoots 

 arising in spring; these shoots may be utilized in their 

 natural state (green), or blanched by hilling with earth. 

 A deep, rich, fertile, moist, cool soil, warm exposure, thor- 

 ough preparation of the land, heavy manuring, thorough 

 Ullage in late fall and early spring, are general requisites 

 of asparagus culture. The plants should be allowed to 

 become well established before a crop is cut, and the cut- 

 ting of the plants should cease in early summer to allow 

 them opportunity to grow and to store up energy for the 

 following year. The tops are mown in late fall, and the 

 land is top-dressed with manure before winter sets in. 

 Asparagus is grown for its young shoots, and the quality 

 is determined by the succulence of these shoots. A good 

 plantation should last ten years and more, at least at the 

 North. Propagated by 'seeds. Practices in the growing of 

 asparagus vary widely. 



In small gardens, asparagus may be set 18 in. apart, in rows 

 as close as 3 ft. ; at these distances, about 9600 plants are 

 required to a full acre. In general field culture for green 

 asparagus, the rows are usually farther apart to allow of 

 easier tillage and often 2 ft. in the row. Some growers prefer 

 to plant as wide as 3 by 4 ft., or, 3600 plants. For the growing 

 of blanched asparagus, the rows may be as much as 8 ft. 

 (6 to 8 ft.) and 18 or 20 in. in the row, when about 3600 plants 

 are required to the acre. Seeds are usually sown thickly in 

 rows, and the plants thinned to 3 or 4 in. ; 4 or 5 lbs. of seeds 

 are usually sown to the acre. When one year old, the plants 

 are set in permanent quarters, and the following year the first 

 cutting of asparagus may be made. About 2000 (1800 to 3000) 

 dozen bunches (averaging 8 to 12 stalks) is a fair yield to the 



