THE NEW ASPARAGUS CULTURE , 
Growing Without Stable Manure. 
lias anyone succeeded in raising first-class asparagus, of 
large size and maximum yield (or nearly so) per acre, 
without the use of stable or yard manure, using commer¬ 
cial or chemical fertilizers instead? What distance apart 
should the plants be set where first-class asparagus is 
wanted, yet as large yield as is consistent with above re¬ 
quirement? Is seed obtainable that lias been raised from 
plants selected for their vigor 
above the average, which were 
fertilized by plants also selected 
in like manner? Unless I can 
learn of a better way I Intend 
to plow under a crop of cow peas 
now (September 7) standing. In 
Spring fit ground for asparagus, 
putting some manure in trenches, 
and using as well commercial fer¬ 
tilizers. On another piece of land 
sow an early maturing variety of 
cow peas, plow it under in early 
August and sow Crimson clover, 
which would be plowed under the 
next Spring and asparagus plant¬ 
ed, using only commercial fertil¬ 
izer. Owing to the distance I 
have to cart manure an applica¬ 
tion of 3,000 or even 4,000 
pounds of good chemical fertil¬ 
izer per acre would be more eco¬ 
nomical, provided proportionate 
results would be likely to follow. 
Connecticut. s. b. h. 
The asparagus is about the 
most popular vegetable vve 
have, and deservingly so, be¬ 
cause it is the most profitable. 
For a number of years we 
have heard the repeated cry 
that the asparagus business 
Would soon be overdone, and 
the growers will have to rely 
on the canning establishments 
to help them out. As it now 
appears, in spite of the heavy 
annual plantings and the steady 
increase in acreage, the de¬ 
mand for prime “grass” is 
greater than ever before, and 
but a comparatively small 
quantity finds its way to the 
canning factory. Now that the 
question of overproduction is 
no longer a discouraging fac¬ 
tor, the subject that is agitat¬ 
ing the minds of the grower to 
some extent is how to grow 
fine “grass” by a less expen¬ 
sive method, or to simplify the 
cultivation by the inclusive use 
of commercial fertilizers. 
Some of the practical grow¬ 
ers are inclined to give the 
cold shoulder to the older style 
of digging trenches and partly 
filling with compost; they are 
of the opinion that where land 
is comparatively cheap and of 
a light, sandy nature, easy of 
cultivation, it will be a safe 
and reliable course to pursue. 
With this system of culture, 
the object is to grow it much closer together, plant new 
beds every third year, stimulate it very freely by the 
use of commercial fertilizers, commence cutting early, 
and as soon as there are indications of exhausting, 
which will be in seven or eight years, a new bed will 
be ready to replace it. This method of culture cannot, 
however, be carried on where the ground is limited, or 
on small market gardens; it is therefore better on such 
places to depend on the more permanent system of 
cultivation. 
I he newer method of growing the asparagus has 
proven very satisfactory in many of the Southern 
States, and is now practiced to some extent among the 
progressive growers in Monmouth Co., N. J. Where 
a choice can be had, a light, sandy soil should be se¬ 
lected, the.rows should not be more than five feet apart, 
and are made sufficiently deep without trenching by 
simply plowing* out deep furrows, running two or more 
times in the row with a large plow. One-year-old 
plants, if well grown, are preferred instead of two-year- 
old crowns. 1 hese young plants are set very close in 
the row; from seven to 10 inches is considered far 
enough apart. The object of this close planting is to 
secure a thick'stand and sure growth, without waiting 
several years for the crown to grow and spread to¬ 
gether as if planted by the older method. The plants are 
set in the furrow and covered to a depth of two or 
three inches. Where fertilizer was omitted at the time 
of planting an excellent way is to apply it after the 
young plants come through the ground by dropping or 
scattering it between the planted crowns, thus avoiding 
the young roots coming in direct contact with it. As 
the young plants grow out of the furrow they are 
gradually covered deeper at each cultivation by filling 
in the furrow. A second application of fertilizer before 
the rows arc brought level with the surface will be of 
lasting benefit, as the yet un¬ 
covered rows will at every 
rainfall conduct the fertilizer 
to the roots of the plant with¬ 
out loss. A crop of early 
vegetables can, of course, be 
grown the first, year between 
the rows and will usually go a 
good way towards paying the 
expenses of the initial plant¬ 
ing if the grower desires. 
Early in Spring, or as soon 
as the soil can be worked, the 
bed should be put in order by 
raking up the dried tops and 
burning them. Cultivate and 
side-dress the young and grow¬ 
ing plants as soon as they ap¬ 
pear well above the ground. I 
may also add that as good re¬ 
sults can be obtained from a 
reliable brand of potato fer¬ 
tilizer as from any other mix¬ 
ture. The aim should be to 
keep the plants growing by 
thorough cultivation and atten¬ 
tion. No “grass” should be 
cut the first year, and but little 
the second. Some growers, 
however, claim they can cut 
liberally the second year with¬ 
out permanent injury to the 
young crowns that are just 
becoming well established in 
the soil. I am a little inclined 
to differ with those who cling 
to this theory. Cutting aspara¬ 
gus from young roots will 
have about the same affect on 
them as when we pull rhubarb 
stalks from the newly planted 
bed. If we should take the 
trouble to watch the growing 
asparagus and rhubarb during 
the Summer months, when they 
are left to grow and renew 
their strength for the next 
year’s cutting, and should 
mark those that are making 
the strongest and most vigor¬ 
ous growth we would the fol¬ 
lowing Spring be at once con¬ 
vinced, when we see the 
■strong and vigorous stalks 
they are sending up, that it 
pays well to cultivate thor¬ 
oughly and stimulate freely 
the growth of the previous 
Summer, if we expect good 
returns the following year. It is likewise true with the 
young and growing beds the first and second years of 
their struggle for existence. Another very critical time 
is the resting period, or when cutting ceasas. The 
crowns at this time are pretty well exhausted from the 
continuous strain of 8 or 10 weeks hacking at them, and 
instead of care and attention, it is sometimes allowed 
to go struggling along with the weeds and grass to 
the end of the growing year. A bed of asparagus 
planted as above described and stimulated by the con- 
NEW HYBRID GLADIOLUS. NATURAL SIZE. Fig. 314. See Ruralisms, Page 746. 
