191 1.] Cultivation of Asparagus in Evesham. 833 



the plants suffer from drought in summer, a period when 

 they need a large supply of water. 



Preparation of the Ground. — In the autumn the soil is well 

 dug and the subsoil is broken up. Manure is supplied in the 

 previous autumn, generally taking the form of one ton of soot 

 to the acre. 



Seed. — The berries are gathered in autumn, when quite 

 ripe, and carefully preserved till next spring. 



Cultural Operations — first Spring. — The seed is drilled in 

 on a dry day in March in rows 9 inches apart. This gives 

 sufficient room for the hoe to be used subsequently. Hoeing 

 is continued through the year whenever weeds show them- 

 selves. 



Second Spring. — The roots are raised and transplanted into 

 their permanent position. Some growers plant them in rows 

 1 yard apart, others 42 inches. The latter is the better 

 distance. 



Planting. — The roots are sometimes, though not always, 

 trimmed before planting. Each root is set 9 inches to 1 foot 

 apart from its neighbour in the row, so as to give room 

 to hoe in between. A foot is generally considered to be 

 better than 9 inches, but both are practised. 



There are two methods of actually planting the roots: — 



1. By channelling them in : In this method a channel about 

 3 inches deep is drawn and the roots placed on their sides 

 "head to tail" all along the channel. Earth is then drawn 

 over with a hoe, and then trodden down by the operator. 



2. Pinning them in with setting pins : The roots are placed 

 at the proper distance apart, and each is then fastened in by a 

 " setting pin." 



Further Cultivation during the Second Year. — Sometimes 

 dwarf beans or parsnips are planted in between the rows. 

 The former crop does not appear to hurt the asparagus in 

 the first year after transplanting, but the latter is too exhaust- 

 ing, and should not be planted. 



The subsequent cultivation varies slightly in detail. The 

 following are two methods practised : — 



A. Second Autumn. — A little soil is pulled up to the plants 

 by means of the hoe. The stalks are not cut off, but left till 

 the following spring. 



