SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS— ASPARAGUS 



21 



ASPARAGUS 



One-year-old roots of Asparagus are always to be preferred to older ones. They suffer 

 less in transplanting than roots that have remained in the nursery rows for two years. 

 There has been in times past a great deal of needless work in planting Asparagus. This 

 was especially true of the cultivation in the home gardens. Years ago it was common in 

 private gardens to dig out a plot and pave the bottom, and then fill in with rich soil after 

 setting the roots ver}^ deeply, with the idea that they must be kept from running into the 

 subsoil, when, in fact, the tendency of the roots and tops is always to get nearer to the 

 surface. 



There should be some difference in the planting, owing to whether green or blanched 

 shoots are desired. In some markets there is a demand for the white shoots, while in others 

 the green and tender shoots bring the higher price. As a plantation of Asparagus is a matter 

 for a number of years, the preparation should be made in the most thorough manner. 

 A deep, sandy loam with an abundance of decayed organic matter is the best soil for Aspara- 

 gus. A crop of cowpeas turned under the previous fall is a very good preparation, but the 

 planting is always best done in the spring, as early as the soil can be worked in good con- 

 dition, covering the crowns about 2 or 3 inches. 



Where it is desired to cut the shoots partly under ground the trenches should be run 

 out with a plow and then cleaned out with shovels fully a foot deep. Well-rotted stable 

 manure is placed thickly in the trenches and supplemented with an application of a fer- 

 tilizer high in ammonia and potash. The roots are set 2 feet apart, and covered shallowly 

 till they start to grow, for if covered deeply at planting many will not get through at all. 

 As the shoots grow the soil is worked to them till level, and the cultivation should be 

 frequent and clean through the season. The dead tops are mown off in the fall and furrows 

 thrown from each side making a bed over the rows, and cleaning out the middles. The 

 beds will warm up earlier in spring than the flat surface. 



Some still stick to the idea that salt is a special fertilizer for Asparagus. I have found 

 that the best thing is to apply a heavy dressing of kainit over the rows in the fall when 



Asparagus properly bunched 

 for market 



