ASPARAGUS— RHUBARB 
71 
Garden Roots 
Asnara^us Asparagus will thrive in most soils, but does best on a 
fairly sandy loam. It should have as much sunshine as 
possible, and the rows should be planted north and south if practicable. 
To prepare the land, plow deep in the fall. After harrowing, give the 
ground a good dressing of well-rotted manure. As soon as the ground 
will permit in the spring, plow under the manure and harrow. Mark off 
the rows 4 feet apart and open up with a large plow making a trench 8 to 
12 inches deep, going over the same ground with the plow several times if 
necessary. The furrows should all run the same way. Set the crowns 
or roots in the trench 2 to 3 feet apart in the row, and cover them imme- 
diately with about 3 inches of loose, friable soil, which can be easily done 
with a one-horse plow from which the moldboard has been removed. The 
trench will become filled gradually during the following season's cultiva- 
tion. All weeds must be kept down, and the ground carefully cultivated 
through the season. 
In the fall, when the tops are matured, they should be cut, hauled off 
and burned, and all but 3 inches of the soil removed from above the 
crowns, so the frost may penetrate and loosen the soil, and the rains 
improve it. Early the following spring the loose earth must be ridged 
over the crowns, in order to bleach the asparagus tips. One ridging is 
not enough. Renew the ridging every two or three weeks during the 
cutting season, as the rains beat them down. When through cutting the 
tips, plow down the ridges and run a harrow in both directions. Give a 
liberal dressing of manure during the growing season, also during the 
winter. 
Stop cutting six weeks after the shoots begin to come up and allow 
the rest to develop, so the roots may have a chance to get in shape for the 
next season's crop. Do not cut the young beds for market until the 
second spring after setting out, and then only for two or three weeks. 
In a small garden a simpler method may be followed. Spade the 
ground 12 inches deep. Set roots 2 feet apart each way, and with the 
crown 8 to 12 inches deep. Cover the crown with 3 inches of dirt. Keep 
down weeds by repeated hoeing. After the plants start to grow, gradually 
fill up the holes at each hoeing. Manure well each winter. 
Rhubarb Rhubarb is one of the hardiest plants grown, and will suo- 
("Pipnlant") ceed anywhere. However, to get the extra large, crisp 
ytrmyiAui ) stalks, the ground should be heavily manured every year. 
The ground must be plowed or well spaded. Set the plants with the 
crown, or bud, 2 inches below the surface, press the dirt firmly about the 
roots, and, if they are planted in the fall, cover them with a mulch of 
several inches of leaves or trashy manure. Plant in rows 3 }4 feet wide, 
with the plants 2 feet apart in the row. Cultivate as you would any other 
garden crop. Do not throw the dirt into the eye or crown of the plant, 
as it will rot out the tender young buds. 
The roots will grow very heavy, and after about five years there will 
be so many eyes that the stalks will be small. The plant should be taken 
up and the crown cut into a number of plants with a sharp knife. 'I'hese 
should have one good strong bud to each plant. Reset the plants as you 
would in planting a new bed. Pull leaves from the main stalk instead of 
cutting, so there will be no stub left. 
