26 



ASPARAGUS. 



cut the second year after ; if seeds, they will not be fit to 

 cut till the third year. All the shoots, which come up be- 

 fore the middle of June, may be cut off without injuring 

 the roots ; after which time, the late shoots should be left 

 to run up, and go to seed ; otherwise the roots will be weak- 

 ened." — Deane. 



Cutting and gathering. — In new plantations, be careful 

 not to begin cutting till the stools have become mature, or the 

 third or fourth year. Likewise observe, both in old and new 

 beds, to gather all the produce in a regular, successive order, 

 within the proper limits of the season. As the rising shoots 

 project two, three, four or five inches, at most, above the 

 ground, Vv^hile the top bud remains close and plump, they are 

 in the best condition for gathering. Cut them o(i within tlie 

 ground, with a narrow, sharp-pointed knife, or small savv', 

 nine inches long; thrusting the knife or saw down straight, 

 close to each shoot separately, cut it off slantingly, about 

 three inches below the surface, with care not to wound the 

 young buds advancing below. Observe in a nev/ planta- 

 tion, in the first year's gathering, if the shoots come up of 

 irregular sizes, to cut only some of the larger for a fort- 

 night, or three or four weeks, and then permit the whole 

 to run ; but otherv/ise, w^hen in strong production, gatlier 

 all as they come, two or three times a week, or as required 

 during the season, till the 21st of June ; then, at furthest, 

 terminate the cutting, and permit the after-shoots to run up 

 in stalk till October. If, from a particular inducement, you 

 cut later than the 2ist of June, be careful to leave two or 

 more shoots to each stool, in order to draw nourishment to 

 it ; for the stools left without growmg shoots will perish ; 

 and, by negligence in liiis icspe^jt, many vacuities or unpro- 

 ductive spots are left in beds." 



Duration of the plantation. — Abercrombie says, A plan- 

 tation of asparagus, under good culture, will mostly continue 

 for ten or twelve years to afford good crops ; after which 

 the stools usually decline in fertility, and the shoots in qual- 

 ity ; so that, to provide a permanent annual supply, some 

 fresh beds should be planted a sufficient time beforehand, 

 allowing four years for their advancing to a productive 

 state." 



To save asparagus seed. — " Select some of the finest and 

 earliest heads as they make their appearance in the spring; 



