ASPARAGUS 



13 



selected ; but if the cultivator has no other soil except one that is 

 very stiff and damp, he should, by a thorough drainage, render it 

 wholesome to the depth of at least 12 or 16 in., and direct all 

 his efforts to the improvement of the surface. The experience 

 of the Asparagus growers at Argenteuil and other localities near 

 Paris, who have brought the culture of this plant to a degree of 

 perfection unknown before, seems to prove that the best results 

 are obtained by liberally manuring the upper portion only of the 

 soil in which the plants are growing, as the roots have naturally 

 nc tendency to descend deeper, if they find sufficient nourishment 

 near the surface. It is obvious that, in establishing a plantation of 

 Asparagus, account must 



be taken of the nature ^ ft >^ 



which they require. 

 The stools, then, should be planted at no great depths and no 

 great quantity of soil should be heaped over^'them, except at the 

 time when the young shoots are growing, when it is absolutely 

 necessary to do so, in order to obtain these of sufficient length. 

 As to the disposition of the young plants, there is no fixed rule. 

 They may be placed either in single rows, or in beds containing 

 two or three rows each ; but it is advisable, in all cases, to have a 

 distance of at least 2 or 2 J ft. from plant to plant in all directions. 

 This will be found advantageous from a double point of view, as 

 ensuring a crop of greater abundance and better quality. 



Planting in beds being the most usual way, we shall briefly 

 describe how it is done, first observing that the methods of 

 establishing and cultivating the plants are almost exactly the 

 same as those pursued with plants grown in single rows. In 

 March or April, or even later, the ground for the plantation is 

 carefully laid out, having been previously well dug and plentifully 

 manured before winter. The surface of the beds is then slightly 



of the soil in which it is 

 to be made, and which, 

 consequently, must be 

 dug more or less deeply; 

 but it may be said 

 generally that the chief 

 point on which success 

 mainly depends, is not 

 to put the stools out of 

 reach of the influence of 

 heat, while, at the same 

 time, placing them in a 

 medium in which they 

 will find an abundance 

 of the nourishment 



Asparagus (after 7 years' planting). 



