December, 1916 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
61 
The Annual Convention, Madison, Dec. 12--14 
be gained by planting it in 
August and then transplanting 
it the next spring; the roots are 
then ready to force a year from 
that fall. 
In forcing asparagus many of 
the same conditions are essential 
as for forcing rhubarb except 
that the temperature cannot 
vary as much as in the case of 
rhubarb and still produce good 
thick shoots. Pick out good 
three year old asparagus roots 
or older if they are available 
I and store them, before the 
ground freezes, where they will 
not dry out. It is not essential 
that they be frozen although it 
is conceded that freezing in- 
i' creases the size and the quality 
of the crop. In placing the roots 
in the cellar they are not placed 
like rhubarb directly on the floor 
but upon a layer of 4 to 6 inches 
of a light soil. The roots are 
then packed in lightly and 
covered with about 3 inches of 
good mellow, light soil. If the 
shoots are desired blanched, this 
top covering of earth may be 
increased to 6 or 8 inches. 
Many consider that asparagus 
growing is hard, but as a forcing 
plant it is the easiest and most 
reliable plant to force that is 
known. In some cases it may be 
necessary to lay some tile drains 
in the bottom layer of soil as the 
; crops requires plenty of water 
but it should never stand in the 
! soil. Never use cold water; 
always tepid or warm water. 
The temperature of the as- 
paragus seed bed should run a 
trifle higher than that of the 
rhubarb bed being about a con- 
j stant 50-55°. This can be ac- 
I complished by placing on top 
of the bed a layer of decaying 
leaves that not only impart but 
also conserve the heat. The heat 
for the asparagus bed should 
always be gentle and never 
strong bottom heat as the latter 
produces weak spindly growths. 
The shoots usually start to grow 
about a week after they are set. 
and soon the first cutting is 
ready. The shoots of cutting 
size last for about two months 
or beginning in December last 
to February. Hence, with a 
second planting in January the 
season is prolonged until the 
outdoor season is reached. The 
biggest question is the keeping 
up of the asparagus plants for 
forcing. However, generally 
enough 3 year old plants can 
be set aside each year to supply 
all of the asparagus needed by 
the family. 
Seakale and chicory are forced 
under much the same conditions 
as asparagus, blanching the 
leaves with either straw or leaves. 
The leaves to make a good 
tender salad or green should be 
cut when 6 to 8 inches high and 
when used at this time make a 
salad considered far superior to 
any lettuce salad. For the lover 
of beet greens this product can 
easily be produced by placing 
the beet bulbs gathered the 
previous fall in a layer of light 
earth and watering quite freely. 
Soon the leaves will grow and 
several cutting of fine greens 
can be obtained. 
If the entire cellar is not 
available for forcing due to 
storage of fruits or vegetables, 
wall off a portion of it as the 
pleasure of “green stuff” in the 
bill of fare will amply repay the 
work of fixing up the place. 
Besides the pleasure there may 
be some profit as any extra 
material will bring a fancy price 
due to its being out of season. 
Now, who will chide, if the 
Who Wants a 
Stereopticon Outfit? 
Here is a Bargain 
Badger Lantern complete with 
large mount 10 inch objective 
and five tip acetylene lamp Cost 
with automobile reflector $38 75 
Carrying case 5 00 
Tripod with chains 4 00 
3 ft. Hose 50 
I Arc Lamp 6 00 
I No. 110 Volt Rheostat (dou- 
ble) with guard 15 00 
$69 25 
I Chest 1 5x1 5x35 in 7 00 
Total $ 75 25 
First Oder of 
THIRTY DOLLARS 
will be accepted, buyer to pay trans- 
portation charges. This is an excellent 
outfit for church, school or community 
use. Nearly new and in perfect working 
order. Reason for selling, too clumsy 
for institute work and expensive to ship 
long distances. 
Property of State Horticultural So- 
ciety. Address 
F. CRANEFIELD, Secretary 
701 Gay Building Madison, Wisconsin 
dinner is late due to the house 
wife stopping a while down 
cellar to gaze at the growing 
vegetables while the snow blows 
and the wind whistles outside, 
for the pie and fresh asparagus 
on toast will only taste all the 
better. 
Cover the strawberry bed 
lightly with straw as soon as the 
ground freezes. When it is 
frozen solid put on four or five 
inches of clean straw or light hay. 
Examine the bulbs planted 
and see if they are drying. If the 
soil is dry water it well. 
