PERENNIAL 
215 CROPS 
the second season. The shoots are blanched 
either by covering the crowns with fine, loose 
soil 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 
autumn dressing of light manure or straw. 
