i9i i.] Commercial Asparagus Cultivation. 553 



subject to a great loss of manurial stimulants by rain. This 

 is in great contrast to the conditions which obtain in the 

 Evesham district, but the French growers have effected a 

 marked increase in yield by employing artificial fertilisers in 

 conjunction with farmyard manure; the latter is principally 

 relied upon to furnish the soil with the humus it naturally 

 lacks. Asparagus flourishes in deep alluvial sandy soils, 

 devoid of water deposits below. Damp and water-logged 

 areas are naturally unsuited to the crop unless they are thor- 

 oughly drained. 



Preparation of Ground. — In the Evesham district many of 

 the growers attempt no special preparation of the soil, and 

 very often the seed is sown where the plants are to remain. 

 By this means time is saved, but the strength of the plants 

 and the size and quality of the "grass" are not improved, 

 but rather the reverse. The ground is usuallv well dug in the 

 autumn, and the subsoil broken up. The seed-bed must be of 

 rich, clean soil ; no good results can come of sowing the seed 

 in foul land. When forming beds the deepest possible four- 

 horse ploughing should be practised where possible. A great 

 advantage is gained by preparing the ground as early as 

 possible in the year, so that it may have settled down for 

 seed-sowing late in March, or planting with young plants 

 in April. 



Manuring. — In making asparagus beds liberal quantities of 

 well-rotted manure should be thoroughly mixed with the soil. 

 Some growers use as much as 25 tons per acre, worth at least 

 from 8s. to 10s. per ton on the ground; others withhold farm- 

 yard manure from this crop, preference being given to a dress- 

 ing of artificials. The condition of the soil must, however, be 

 taken into account, for on sandy soils poor in humus farmyard 

 manure will undoubtedly give better results than artificials. 

 Cowdung is used to good effect on such soils, or a mixture of 

 cowdung and horse manure may be employed. The debris 

 of mushroom beds also answers well for asparagus. 



For general purposes, the following dressing is to be recom- 

 mended per acre : — 10 or 12 tons of dung applied in early 

 winter, 5 cwt. of superphosphate and 4 cwt. of kainit broad- 

 casted in February or March, and 2\ to 3 cwt. of nitrate of 

 soda as a top-dressing given in three applications at fort- 



