A Delicious Dish for Spring Appetites. 
Asparagus 1 oz. of seed should produce 
250 roots. 
50 roots sufficient for a family of four. 
5000 to 7000 roots plant an acre. 
Asparagus seed should be sowed in light sandy soil, early in the spring. Seed 
2 to 4 inches apart one-half inch deep, in 15 to 24 inch rows. AS asparagus 
germinates slowly, mix in a few radish seed to mark the row for early cultivation. 
Roots may be transplanted either the following spring or left in seed bed for 
two years. 
Transplant 18 to 24 inches apart in trench 8 to 10 imches deep and wide enough 
to spread roots out evenly around crown. Cover with 2 inches of soil. packed 
tightly. Gradually fill the trench as the plants grow. Rows should be 4 feet 
apart. Rotted manure may be used in bottom of trench. 
Use 5% DDT dust to control asparagus beetle except during cutting season 
when rotenone dust is recommended. 
H The best of several rust resistant 
Mary Washington strains originated by the Bureau of 
Plant Industry. The shoots are larger and grow more rapidly than 
others. Stalks are very thick and grow unusually tall without 
branching. Color, an attractive deep green with purple tips. 
Even the largest shoots are firm, tender and richly flavored. 
(Pkt., 5c) (0z., 20c) (1441b., 60c) (1b., $1.75) (5 lbs., $7.70) prepaid 
Not Delivered (10 Ibs., $1.40 per Ib.) (100 Ibs., $1.80 per Ib.) 
SUCCESSFUL GARDENING 
{Continued from page 5] 
HOTBED SOIL Good garden soil, loamy and full of humus; 
or well fortified with compost and a small 
AND HEATING amount complete fertilizer is desirable. Soil 
sterilization is unnecessary if disease-free soil and care in water- 
ing and ventilation are used. It is good practice to sprinkle top of 
the soil lightly, after the seed is sown, with a solution of fixed 
copper. A shallow layer of strawy manure under 4 or 5 inches of 
soil will break capillary attraction and give better control of mois- 
ture; the result, plants with many short roots which transplant 
better. 
The beds may be heated by electricity, fresh horse manure 
mixed with straw, or buried hot water pipes. If you wish detailed 
information regarding any of these methods please write to us. 
The essentials for success are a steady uniform degree of heat 
and moisture. Examine the soil every day or two, digging down 
several inches to make sure that the heat supplied from below is 
not drying out soil and damaging or burning roots. In colder 
climates it is well to bank up with soil around the outside of the 
frame to make it air tight. 
Heavy quilted pads can be used to cover sash at night to retain 
heat. A windbreak should be used to protect the bed from cold 
winds. 
PLANTING Cabbage, tomato and pepper seed may be planted 
in three or four inch rows, spacing the seed about 
THE BEDS four to six to the inch. We suggest that the seed 
be treated with Semesan or Arasan before planting. If the plants 
“damp off’’ in the beds they may be sprayed with a solution of 
Semesan or Arasan as instructed on the package, Semesan listed 
on page 78. 
The plants usually are thinned to stand three inches either 
way. At thinning time the ground may be covered with % inch of 
tine sand to keep down weeds and provide a quick drying surface 
to avoid black root. Keep the beds cool enough so that short, 
stocky, hardy plants are produced. Keep the soil moist enough for 
good steady growth. Too much watering will result in spindling 
plants and increases the danger of ‘‘damping off.”’ 
Continued page 14 
6 25 Ibs. may be ordered at 100 Ib. rate 
