TO B! SATISFIED ORDER FROM LANDRETH 



ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROCESS OF PREPARING AxN ASPARAGUS BED. 



In this case there being three trenches five feet apart and twenty-four inches deep, each trench filled to a depth of eight inches 

 of well-decayed stable manure, the roots placed on top of the manure in the bottom of the trenches at eighteen inches 

 apart, and covered at first by one inch of earth. As the Asparagus plants develop in size the earth is hoed in until finally 

 by the end of the second year the entire surface is level; the object of the deep plantins; being that the root crowns shall 

 be far below the reach of an Asparagus cutting knife, but after five or six years the crowns rise nearer the surface. 



This plant succeeds best on sandy soil, though reclaimed marsh land, when freed from water, is admirably adapted to its 

 culture; the lighter the soil the earlier the plants shoot in the Spring. Of whatever character the ground may be, it should 

 be well cleared of trash or other incumbrances, and in a . good state of cultivation. The land is prepared by opening deep 

 trenches, five Or six feet apart, by passing a two-horse plow twice to each furrow, throwing a furrow slice to the right and 

 left, and finally cleaning and deepening the furrow by a third passage of the plow. The roots are planted in the bottom of 

 the furrow, at eighteen inches apart,, and covered by an inch of soil. , 



yStable manure should be applied in the furrow before the roots are placed, or on top of the roots after they are covered. 



North of the latitude of Washington, Spring planting, when the Peach is in bloom, is considered to give the best 

 results, but south of Washington, Fall planting has proven the best. We can ship Asparagus roots from October 

 to April to any point within 3,000 miles, but they must be planted as soon • as received, as if exposed to the air 



are soon injin-ed in ■\ngpr.-, ' "- 



If the rows be six feet apart, about 5,000 plants are required to plant an acre; if at eight feet apart, 3,000 plants, 

 are required tothe acre. 



. Two-year-old roots are better than one-year-old ones. When well planted and fertilized, a cutting of stalks can be 

 mide about thi-ee times the second year after planting. Cutting should not be continued too late in the Spring, or the 

 roots; will become exhausted if the shoots are not allowed to develop fully, for of course it must be understood the leaves, 

 are the lungs of the plants. After cutting has ceased the ground should be worked by plowing away from the rows and 

 manuring alongside, after \\'hvch the earth should be thrown back. Twenty bushels of salt to the acre, sown broadcast, 

 may be Used to advantage annually. The roots of Aspar-aigus (though some penetrate six and eight feet in depth) are^. 

 many of them, inclined to run near the surface; the cultivator should accordingly, as far as possible, aim at flat culture. 

 Early crops, like Peas, may be profitably grown between the rows of .Asparagus for the first two or three years. 

 Asparagus can be bleached and made tender by mulching or covering with six inches of fine-cut hay, straw or leaves. 



A season's cutting covers eight to ten weeks, anci profitable cutting continues up to ten years from planting, after 

 which time the beds are considered unprofitable by market gardeners. 



One pound of Asparagus seed will produce 2,000 plants, enough for one-third acre. The seed may be sown when the 

 Cherry is in bloom or among the earliest operations in the Spring, and is usually drilled in rows of ten inches. 



Plant Eight Ounces of Seed to loo Yards of Row. Fifteen Pounds to the Acre. 



SEED. 



ROOTS. 



PALMETTO.— Two years old, per 100, 75c.; 1000. $5.50. 

 COLOSSAL.- -Two years old, per 100, 75c.; 1000, $4.50 

 COLUMBIAN WHITE.— Per 100, $1.25; 1000, $6.00. 

 ARGENTEUIL.— Per 100, $1.00; per 1,000, $5.00 



One-year-old roots one dollar per thousand less in each case. 



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