162 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1899. 
simply sowing in ordinary garden soil. In fact, in certain provinces of France 
he asparagus is grown in the vineyards between the rows of vines! It appears 
here is a custom there to plant, at the birth of a male child, one or two acres 
of land with both vines and asparagus, the returns of which are spent in rearing 
the child, whilst the land thus planted is handed to him at his coming of age. 
It is said that by that means one aere is sufficient to rear a man ! 
There can be no doubt whatever that asparagus cultivation is a most profit- 
able form of farming. Its only serious drawbacks are the first expenses of 
establishing the beds (here in Australia it can be done for about £5 per acre) 
and the fact that the land is occupied for two or three years without giving any 
return. But this overcome, the remaining work is light, easy, and inexpensive. 
It consists in reloading the beds every year with some compost or half-rotted 
manure, and keeping the surface in good tilth. It is eminently a poor man’s 
crop, giving large returns from a small area. It suits especially a man with a 
‘large family, as nearly all the work can be done by the weaker members of the 
family. 
Much has been talked recently of women farmers in Belgium, in America, 
and elsewhere. Why should we not have women farmers in Queensland, too ?* 
There are many branches of farming infinitely lighter, healthier, more pleasant, 
and more profitable than the so-called women’s trades in our cities. 
Asparagus cultivation is one of them. Judge for yourselves. An acre under 
asparagus contains from 10,000 to 12,000 crowns, giving an average of twenty 
shoots each, making a total of 200,000 shoots per acre, or 2,000 marketable 
bundles. The price varies from 3d. to 1s. per bundle,< or 6d. on’the’average, 
which means a money return of over £100 per acre, leaving, no doubt, a hand- 
some margin for profit after having deducted the money for rent of the land, 
interest on outlay, labour, and incidentals. 
There are, of course, many ways of preparing asparagus. As it is more or 
less a new vegetable to many, some recipes as used in my own household will 
be found on page 164. 
I have tried to make the above notes as complete as possible, so that any 
man with ordinary intelligence could from them make a start in this profitable 
industry. Let now everyone try first on a small scale to get that thorough 
acquaintance with the subject—those little knacks which, in all branches of 
agriculture, practice alone can give. And it will not be long before the 
smartest member of the family will have discovered that the surest way to 
make sovereigns is to cultivate assiduously (asparagus) crowns ! 
. 
MARKET GARDENING. 
As much interest appears to be taken in asparagus-growing both for pleasure 
and profit, we append an article on the same subject by Mr. H. W. Gorrie, 
Horticulturist at the Queensland Agricultural College. The asparagus beds 
at the College have been very prolific, owing to the care bestowed on their 
preparation; and as Mr. Gorrie practises what he teaches, his notes on 
asparagus culture cannot fail to be of value :— 
Asparagus officinalis is a native of the maritime provinces of Europe, and 
in its wild state is found growing close to the seashore, in saline and sandy soil. 
The fact of its native habitat being on the seashore has a considerable influence 
on the manner of its artificial cultivation. This vegetable has been cultivated 
from very ancient times, and is esteemed as one of the best and most delicate 
of all table vegetables. j 
* Farmers’ wives and daughters in Queensland would scarcely find time to attend to field 
work where there is a dairy; and where many household duties claim their attention. We have 
seen women and girls slaving in the fields in Germany, France, and Switzerland, but the British 
farmer prefers to see them in their legitimate sphere—that is, in the dairy, amongst the fowls, and 
ene pe those domestic duties on which depend so much the comfort of the field workers.— 
