6 
The Colorado Experiment Station. 
are cut off several inches below the top of the ground. 
In local markets, asparagus is often sold loose, by weight, 
bringing a good price, but in the city markets, bunched asparagus 
is desired. It is of first importance that the bunches be of uniform 
length and size, containing stalks of the best quality only, and neat¬ 
ly tied. There are several styles of bunchers on the market, in 
which the stalks may be placed, the uneven ends cut off and the 
bunches easily tied. These simple devices greatly facilitate the 
bunching of asparagus, secure uniformity, and are a necessity to 
the grower who sells any considerable amount of his crop. 
Forcing Asparagus. —Asparagus may be forced by putting 
three or four-year-old roots in soil under the benches in the green¬ 
house or by placing them in hotbeds where the temperature is about 
65° or 70°. The roots must undergo hard freezing for about three 
weeks before this is done, so that ordinarily they cannot be taken in 
before the latter part of December. 
The plants will begin to grow in about a week. Shoots may be 
cut for a month or more, after which the plants are thrown away. 
Varieties. —Some of the best varieties of asparagus are Con¬ 
over’s Colossal, Palmetto, and Columbian (Mammoth White). 
BEANS. 
Types of Beans. —There are several types of beans, but the 
two of most importance to the average vegetable grower are the 
kidney and Lima beans. From the former come our ordinary 
string or snap beans, while the large, flat-seeded kinds belong to the 
Lima type. Kidney beans are divided into green-podded and wax- 
podded types, while both kidney and Lima beans are divided into 
dwarf and pole varieties. The dwarf varieties are ordinarily planted 
for the early crop, while the later crops come from the pole 
varieties. 
Soil for Beans. —While beans will produce well on a wide 
range of soils, a rich clay loam is probably best adapted to the plant. 
A soil rich in potash and phosphoric acid is desirable. The nitro¬ 
gen content of the soil is relatively unimportant, as beans are capa¬ 
ble of taking nitrogen from the air and appropriating it to their 
needs. 
Planting and Cultivation of Snap Beans. —Beans are tender 
plants and cannot be planted until danger of frost is past. Plow 
the soil from six to eight inches deep in the spring and immediately 
smooth and harrow it to prevent evaporation of moisture. When 
ready to plant, make the rows two and a half feet apart and plant 
the seed three or four inches apart in the row. Six inches would 
probably be the best distance if a perfect stand could be obtained. 
