ASPABAGTJS CULTUSB* 



carefully hoed and free from weeds, the plants will be in fine 

 condition for planting out the following spring; whereas, 

 should they be neglected, it will take two years before they are 

 as large as well-attended one-year-old plants. It is in conse- 

 quence of this very common neglect that many cultivators 

 labour under the impression that the plants must be two or 

 three years old before planting; which is undoubtedly a 

 mistake, for all good growers invariably plant one-year-old 

 plants, and count on reaping a crop the third spring from the 

 time of sowing. One pound of seed will produce about 3,000 

 plants, and to plant an acre of Asparagus requires from 15,000 

 to 20,000 plants. JSome of the finest shoots which push in the 

 early part of the season from certain crowns should be allowed, 

 to run to seed. These should have the full benefit of exposure 

 to light and air ; and, as they advance in growth, they must 

 be firmly staked, to prevent breakage by wind. When fully 

 ripe, the largest and finest berries, of the deepest red colour, 

 should be selected. They should then be carefully and 

 gradually dried ; or they may, after lying about ten days, be 

 squeezed between the hands, and the pulp washed away ; but 

 by the former method they keep the longest. 



PLANTING. 



This should not be done till after the buds begin to push, as 

 this plant, from its peculiar succulent roots, is less susceptible 

 of injury from late planting than most other vegetables ; yet 

 it should not be delayed too long after the ground has become 

 fit for its reception, in the end of April, as the sooner it is 

 then planted the better will be the result. Plant in rows 2 feet 

 apart, 16 inches being left between the plants in the row. 

 Planting in rows in preference to beds is recommended, for 

 by so doing the plants are allowed room enough to develope 

 their roots without interlacing each other, and consequently 

 causing an impoverishment of the soil. After being planted 

 two years, every alternate row is best taken up for forcing, 

 thus leaving the permanent rows 4 feet apart. The direction 

 of the rows for the main crops is immaterial, but for the 

 earliest ones it would be advisable to run them east and west, 

 so as to be more immediately under the direct action of the 

 sun's rays when they are most powerful. As soon as the 

 Asparagus has commenced to shoot an inch or two, level the 

 ground down methodically, mark out the rows 2 feet apart, 

 placing a stake at each end, where the rows are to be planted ? 



