254: QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprin, 1898. 
alluvial sandy soils, devoid of water deposits below, upon impervious subsoils 
during the winter months, it thrives in perfectly, if they are well worked up 
and liberally manured; for it must not be forgotten the crop is a permanent 
one, which, when once properly planted, produces an improved quantity and 
quality perennially. Damp, very tenacious water-logged areas are, there- 
fore, not suitable. How far the best amongst these can be improved and 
utilised by draining, owners will best judge. It is a subject deserving extended 
consideration, owing to the imperishable characteristics of the “ grass’ when 
cut and bundled, the very convenient way it. is packed, and because distance 
from market need not in these days be a deterrent, provided growers reside 
within delivery distance of any of our innumerable railroads. 
MARKETING ASPEOTS. 
As regards the marketing aspects of the subject, there can be no doubt 
the demand is comparatively unlimited at 1s. 6d. and less per small bundle,* a 
price which will well repay the grower in low-rented distant country districts, 
to say the least; especially when it is considered that the annual outlay 
necessary to keep the crop clean and manure it is so little compared with 
other crops cultivated. There is, moreover, great demand for large, well-grown 
“ blades,’ at prices much in advance of the above. ‘These, in fact, seem always 
to command very high but by no means fictitious prices, as witness the imported 
examples which annually arrive from around Paris, and probably from around 
Brussels. Such excessively fine produce results from very liberal culture ; 
hence I do not err in saying no other crop repays thorough cultivation better 
than does asparagus. 
The supplies of home-grown seem gradually on the increase annually, for, 
besides the former supplies grown around London and towards the coast ih 
Essex, large additions in recent years come from around Worcester, &¢. I 
cannot discard the idea that asparagus, though somewhat of a luxury amongst 
us, is, nevertheless, one of the most popular vegetables, seeing what a trade 
fishmongers have in it, beside that belonging to greengrocers. Rarely, if ever, 
have I seen it upon costers’ barrows, however—a fact which goes to prove these 
sales are capable of immense expansion. 
PREPARATION OF GROUND. 
Given suitable ground it can be prepared so as to produce good crops, 
of even this vegetable, by horse labour, though manual labour, applied to 
trenching it, assuredly gives best results and of greater duration. All 
asparagus plants thrive thoroughly for at least a dozen years, and prolific beds 
on the old system have lasted well for twenty years and more. ven after the 
latter time it was not the decrepitude of the plants that was concerned, but 
rather their decay at the roots, caused by the soil becoming too moist, as a 
result of over-manuring ; hence, when cultivated on suitable lands, I have no 
doubt robust longevity will be materially assisted. 
. FORMING BEDS. 
The very deepest four-horse ploughing possible is necessary in connection 
with forming beds by horse-power. The manure should be of the best, and as 
liberal as possible, in view of properly burying it. Though it will be well to 
spread a goodly quantity over the surface of the ground before commencing 
operations, it will be necessary to bury the bulk by placing it in previous 
furrows with the fork, to be the better buried by the plough on its return bout. 
Asparagus likes the soil to lie closely together when it forms new roots; hence 
it is well to prepare the ground within the current year as soon as possible, so 
as to have it settled down for seed-sowing late in March,+ or planting with 
young plants (where this plan is followed) in April.t Not only is it desirable 
to manure and plough early, but the whole preparation is best finished a month 
* The price is 6d. per small bundle in Brisbane. 
+ September in Queensland. + October. 
