684 Artificial Manures for Asparagus. [fee., 



found that the addition of artificial manures produces a marked 

 increase in the yield, especially where the soil or subsoil 

 contains a sufficient proportion of clay to give it a moderately 

 retentive character. A fertiliser which proved very suitable for 

 light sandy soils with a permeable sub-soil was composed of 

 2 to 2i cwt. of basic slag, i-i cwt. of nitrate of soda, and | cwt. 

 of sulphate of potash per acre. The basic slag was put on in 

 the course of the winter at the same time as the farmyard 

 manure. The sulphate of potash and part of the nitrate was 

 applied early in March and lightly covered in. In rainy 

 weather, however, the application is delayed. It is recom- 

 mended that the nitrate of soda be applied in several doses in 

 order to obtain the best results on these light soils. 



For less sandy soil or light loam with a somewhat clayey sub- 

 soil, larger quantities of manure are recommended, viz. : i J to 2 

 cwt. of mineral superphosphate, to 2-^ cwt. of nitrate of soda 

 (in three applications) and -| to cwt. of sulphate of potash. 

 The full effect will not be obtained the first year, but in subse- 

 quent years the crowns of asparagus will be much more vigorous 

 and the unused manurial constituents will serve to enrich the 

 stores of plant food in the soil. 



Whilst the employment of farm-yard manure is always to be 

 recommended, artificial fertilisers may occasionally be employed 

 alone, if necessary, where the soil is well provided with humus 

 and is fairly retentive. For this purpose 2^ cwt. of mineral super- 

 phosphate or 3^ cwt. of basic slag, 2 cwt. of dried blood, 2 cwt. of 

 nitrate of soda and i4 cwt. of sulphate of potash may be used. 



The effect of these manures over several successive years has 

 been to increase not only the quantity of asparagus gathered, 

 but also the average weight and earliness. 



Messrs. Rousseaux and Brioux consider there is no ground 

 for the belief entertained by some growers that the use of 

 chemical manures will shorten the productive period of the 

 asparagus beds. 



In clay soils sufficiently provided with potash, sulphate of 

 lime may be used instead. 



