16 



ASPARAGUS. 



indicated, the most important factors in soil selection are the constant 

 and abundant suppl}^ of moisture and the never failing supply of 

 available plant food. 



SEED SELECTION 



The selection of good seed is just as important in growing aspara- 

 gus as any other garden or farm crop. This matter is too frequently 

 neglected with the result that growers are realizing from twenty -five 

 to seventy-five dollars less an acre than would be possible were 

 seed selection practiced. Amateurs or beginners should procure 

 the very best stock from specialists who have practiced seed selection 

 for a number of j^ears. Then, after the plantation is established, 

 seed should be selected at home for any further planting that may 

 be contemplated. The individual plants of the field should be 

 carefully studied, marking those which are the largest and most 

 vigorous and free from rust. It is exceedingly important to select 

 plants that produce several large shoots rather than many small 

 shoots. Our markets are demanding and paying for large shoots and 

 this matter can be controlled to a great extent by intelligent selection 

 of seed. The propagator should bear in mind that there are both 

 male and female plants, and that it is just as important to select 

 strong male plants as the very best female plants. These must also 

 be in close proximity to each other, so that the pollination of flowers 

 will be perfect. After locating plants, most growers prefer to lift 

 them from the plot and remove them to a special breeding plot 

 at some distance from other plants. This is an excellent idea; for 

 the same plants may then be kept for many years to produce the seed 

 required, and there will be no interference with tillage operations 

 in the commercial plantation. The seeds are ripe when the berries 

 have turned red. The berries are then picked and the seed washed 

 and dried. The seed may be preserved for several years under 

 conditions such as found in ordinary living rooms. 



GROWING THE YOUNG PLANTS 



Young plants are so easily raised that every commercial grower 

 should produce his own. Ground for this purpose should be highly 

 manured and plowed in the fall. It should then receive a top dress- 

 ing of a complete fertilizer as early as possible in the spring, be 

 harrowed thoroughly, and the seeds drilled in rows not less than 

 eighteen inches apart, if to be worked with a hand wheel hoe, orthirtj^ 



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