Asparagus 1477 



rows about 2 feet, 9 inches distant, opening each furrow with a 

 plow; scatter in each row fertilizer analyzing about 4-8-10, at 

 the rate of 800 pounds per acre. Mix this well with the loose soil 

 and cover by throwing a furrow on it from each side, making a 

 low ridge, and rake off Hat. Sow seeds with a drill set, to sow 

 about three seeds to the inch, and also set to sow at a depth of one 

 inch or a little more. If the soil is light one and one-half inches 

 will be better. 



The plants will be from three to four weeks coining through, 

 according to the temperature and the time planted. From now 

 on the main attention is cultivation, hoeing and additional fer- 

 tilization. The young plants must be kept scrupulously clean and 

 the soil around and about them mellow by frequent hand hoeings 

 and horse cultivations. 



Early in July an application at the rate of 200 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda applied alongside the row and worked in, will 

 be found valuable. This will stimulate the vegetable growth of 

 the young plant but will be effective only about a month, so an- 

 other application in August is desirable. The latter will last 

 through the season. The object is to get as much growth as possible 

 in one short growing season. If this work is carefully done and 

 instructions carefully carried out, a better plant will be had at 

 one year of age than is commonly grown in two years, and far 

 better than any two-year-old plant. 



PREPARATION OF THE PERMANENT BED 



■Since much depends on the appearance as well as size of the 

 shoots much thought should be given to the soil where the bed is 

 to be established. The soil should be more or less of a sandy 

 nature, free from stones, fairly level, sloping toward the sun 

 rather than from it, and the more depth of soil the better. On a 

 soil that is thin and that is situated above a compact subsoil this 

 crop will not do its best. The subsoil should be quite open - — one 

 easily penetrated by the roots. 



The preparation of a plot or field for asparagus should begin 

 the season before the plants are to be set. This can be done by 

 growing thereon some hoed crop that requires liberal manuring 

 and clean cultivation, allowing no weeds to go to seed. As soon 



