December 10, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
543 
HOW TO GROW ASPARAGUS. 
HERE can be no doubt of the importance and 
n^u'Sfi V value of Asparagus as a vegetable, but in some 
ofbwll '/Un A soils there is, perhaps, no crop more difficult to 
establish satisfactorily. In some places it suc¬ 
ceeds remarkably well, grows vigorously, and 
lasts in good condition for many years. As a 
rule it thrives in gardens situated near the sea- 
coast if the soil is light and sandy ; but when of a 
tenacious character it is totally unfit for the production 
of good Asparagus, and to attempt its growth is almost 
useless without special preparation. To accomplish this will 
cause much labour in clearing out the soil where it is intended 
to have the beds, for adding abundance of manure to such 
heavy soil is one of the greatest mistakes that can be made. 
The ground where Asparagus is to be grown should always 
be well drained : if drainage is deficient the roots soon perish 
and die during winter, but if well drained it is unnecessary to 
place under the beds clinkers or broken bricks. Before taking 
out the soil where it is proposed to plant the Asparagus a good 
fire should be started, if convenient, to burn a portion of the 
soil as it is taken out, which can again be worked in with advan¬ 
tage amongst the compost intended to be used. Nothing 
better will be found for this purpose than old potting soil, and 
it matters but little if quantities of crocks remain amongst the 
soil. Prunings and material from the rubbish heap should 
also be burned and mixed with a good quantity of partially 
decayed leaves ; this with a moderate amount of manure will 
be suitable for the beds. A few loads of coarse river or sea 
sand can be advantageously employed according to the light¬ 
ness of the soil. Road sweepings are excellent for this 
purpose, as they frequently contain coarse sand or small gravel, 
leaves, horse droppings, and other manures. The materials 
should be well mixed together and wheeled into the beds ; a 
heavy dressing of hot lime should then be given, and the 
whole mass well trenched so as to thoroughly incorporate the 
natural soil remaining underneath with the lime and other 
mixture. This can be prepared any time during the winter so 
as to be ready in the spring. 
The best time for planting, according to my experience, is 
when the plants are commencing growth. Purchased plants 
I do not like, and I would prefer sowing seed in April. The 
reason I object to purchased plants, especially if they come 
from a distance, is because they are dried too much in transit. 
A number of beds can be prepared and the seed sown, from 
which plants can be obtained the following spring for other 
beds, or the seedlings can be thinned out to the necessary 
distance. When growth has commenced lift the plants in small 
bunches without shaking off the soil. I do not see the ad¬ 
vantage of splitting them up and planting single crowns. A 
line should be drawn and a trench made so that the roots can 
be spread out and then covered at once, placing about an inch 
depth of soil above the crowns, and when the planting is com¬ 
pleted slightly cover the bed with short dung and decayed 
leaves. If planted deeply at first the crowns soon, by constant 
top-dressings, become too deep. The Asparagus here has been 
hitherto planted in beds, but I do not recommend the system. 
I cannot see any advantage in having it in beds, as much 
labour is caused in keeping them neat. When in beds, if the 
plants grow luxuriantly they not unfrequently become too 
crowded and have not room to thoroughly develope. If 
planted in rows 18 inches apart and 1 foot or 14 inches from 
plant to plant, ample space is allowed to work any short 
manure in with a fork in spring. After the foliage has died 
and been cleared off, the beds should be well covered with 
fresh manure. Care must be taken that this operation is done 
before frosty weather sets in ; for although Asparagus is hardy 
when established, I believe many young plants are killed in 
winter by frost, especially if the ground be wet. 
While growing liberal applications of liquid manure, esp e- 
cially during dry weather in summer, are very beneficial. 
Guano acts quickly if strewn over the beds during showery 
weather. Asparagus is benefited by slight applications of salt ; 
and if seaweed can be obtained it may be laid over the beds 
in autumn instead of the manure : no salt’is then required. It 
is often very difficult to obtain seaweed when situated some 
distance inland ; however, salt can be used, but it should be 
employed carefully, or it will do more harm than good. Salt 
can be applied in spring as growth commences, which is doubt¬ 
less the best time. When it is used in quantity during the 
autumn and winter it tends to keep the soil too wet. 
To many readers of the Journal the practice indicated 
may appear to entail a good deal of labour, and especially to 
those who have suitable soil in which Asparagus will do well 
with scarcely any preparation, as I have seen in previous 
years. In those days I should have thought it needless to be 
at the trouble I have detailed in growing this crop ; but in 
the garden here I found five beds from which I could not cut 
one dish. The particulars given have been carried out except 
wheeling out the soil where the Asparagus is planted. The 
ground was low to start with, and without wheeling any away 
I had to add abundance of the fresh compost to make it 
level with the other portion of the garden. There can be no 
doubt that burnt soil and rubbish is admirably adapted for 
mixing with soil for Asparagus beds. I had collected 
all summer and autumn grass from the lawns, prunings, 
edgings from the sides of walks, rough leaves, and small 
branches from amongst the shrubberies—in fact, all kinds of 
rubbish that would burn ; and by the end of the season I had 
a valuable heap of ashes and old soil, as well as abundance of 
old leaf soil and sweepings from the lawns. I have now full 
and good beds of Asparagus. When old potting soil and 
garden rubbish prove to be of value for growing this as well 
as other kitchen garden crops, as recorded by Messrs. Record 
and Iggulden, who would grudge the time and labour required 
in saving and preparing it if such advantages are to be gained ? 
—Wm. Bardney. - 
On page 503 Mr. Nunns gives his experience with Asparagus, 
No. 25.— Yon. I.. Third Series. 
No. 1681 .—ycl. LXIY., Old Series. 
