PERENNIAL 
205 CROPS 
protection, but if not too coarse, may be culti- 
vated under in the spring and afford that much 
more fertilizer to feed the crop. If it is too 
coarse for that, rake it off, cultivate thoroughly 
and. then cover again with litter or manure, to 
afford nourishment and to preserve the moisture 
of the soil as well as to protect the young shoots 
in case of late frosts. 
The whole value of asparagus lies in its ten- 
derness and succulence, and the large shoots are 
most apt to have these qualities. The plant 
cannot grow large shoots unless it has plenty of 
food. Only rich soil and good tillage can supply 
the food needed. 
Usually asparagus is cut off three or four 
inches below the surface with a long sharp 
knife, but one noted asparagus grower objects 
to this practice for two reasons. First, it in- 
creases the temptation to cut too low so as to 
get the stalks of uniform length as the market 
requires, whether or not of uniform quality; 
and second, it tends to waste and to the in- 
jury of the plants. He would substitute for 
this practice, careful hand-picking or breaking. 
The gatherer takes two rows at a time and breaks 
off the shoots just beneath the ground at the 
lowest point where the shoot will break with a 
clean snap. 
