CROPS 55 



Ridging. There are two kinds of asparagus mar- 

 keted, green and blanched grass. Blanched grass is produced 

 by cutting the shoots as soon as the tips show above ground ; 

 green grass is produced by cutting the shoots as soon as 

 they have grown to the required length above ground. The 

 shoots may be cut at the surface of the ground or just below 

 the surface. Whether blanched grass or green grass, is 

 desired, the practice is to ridge the ground over the rows. 

 The ridges should be higher for producing blanched grass 

 than for producing green grass. The purpose of the ridge 

 is primarily to gain a greater length of stalk of blanched 

 grass. 



Harvesting. A light cutting of asparagus may be had 

 the second year, if plenty of fertilizer is applied to the 

 plantation. The third year the cutting may continue from 

 three to four weeks. As the plantation becomes older, the 

 cutting season is extended until it may continue from eight 

 to ten weeks. 



The shoots are gathered bj^ cutting them off with a 

 sharp knife. When blanched grass is desired, the knife is 

 passed down the stalk until the reciuired length is attained, 

 when the shoot is cut off. The stalks should ))e cut long 

 enough to make bunches six to ten inches long. The num- 

 ber of stalks to the bunch varies, but the bunches should 

 be four and one-half inches in diameter, and weigh two and 

 one-half to three pounds. 



Yield. The yield per acre varies; 1500 to 2000 bunches 

 per acre being considered excellent yields. The returns 

 often run as high as $500.00 per acre, but the average is 

 1200.00 to $250.00 per acre, for plantations in their prime. 



Fertilizers. During the cutting season, nitrate of soda 

 should be sown along the rows, or broadcasted, in three 

 or four applications. After the cutting season is over, 



