44 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



completed at one operation the heat penetrates the soil with 

 much less rapidity and the growth of the plants is much 

 retarded. A layer of fresh soil \ in. thick is also thrown into 

 the trenches, so that the roots may be covered to a total 

 depth of from 3 in. to 3i in. Treated in this way Asparagus 

 will stand the drought of summer without harm. For earth- 

 ing up the large flat or the narrow hoe is used. 



Formation of the lesser Mounds over the Stools. 



— The formation of the lesser mounds covering the stools 

 should be begun about the 25th of March in the climate of 

 Paris, but in warmer localities about twelve or fifteen days 

 before the first young heads begin to make their appearance. 

 These lower mounds will vary in height according to the age 

 of the plantation. The following measurements may be taken as 

 being pretty near the mark : At three years from the first crop, 

 from 5 in. to 6 in. ; at four years, from 6 in. to 7 in. ; at five 

 years, from 7 in. to 8 in. • at six years, and for all the fol- 

 lowing years, from 8 in. to 9 in. These differences in the 

 heights of the lower mounds are dependent on the size 

 of the stool. The stronger the stool the greater the depth of 

 earth above it that it will support, seeing that the larger and 

 stronger the heads the more easily can they penetrate the 

 superincumbent soil, whilst a young and comparatively weak 

 shoot will become sickly during the process of slowly pushing 

 itself through, besides which, it will most likely become so 

 deformed as to be unfit for market. By properly earth- 

 ing up we may obtain heads of the following lengths : third 

 year, 9 in. ; fifth year, 10 in. ; sixth year. 11 in. ; and all the 

 other years from 11 in. to 12 in. For making the lesser 

 mounds we use the narrow or broad hoe, taking care to use 

 fine open mould which has been well exposed to the atmo- 

 sphere, so that the young heads may push through it easily. 

 If it contains any stones they must be carefully sifted out and 

 not allowed to remain in the plantation, for reasons already 

 stated. We must also be careful not to allow any manure to 

 remain in these lesser mounds. In order to gain an exact 



