Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-04-13
1--WE copy the following I'm the Frank
fort (ky.) Yeoman of the 81, tnst
How TO make an Asaragus BED

How TO make an As2ragus Bed
Every garden should haves least a small
spot of ground appropriately this most pro
ducrive and delicious esculens Whether it is
intended for The consumptio,of the family, or
for sale, no part of the garden I'LL make a more
| renumerating return. 1t coles among the
earliest of the spring productions of the gar.
den, and may be cut as lattas the first of
June.
March and April are the mh,hs in which it
is best to make the beds, Tough they had
much better be made in May dan not be made
at all.
The writer has had ample experience in rails
ing the PlaEts, in making thu beds and rails
ing the crops; and he would nommcnd CON-
pliance with the following directions, as near
ly as practicable:
Select spot with deep rich soil; free from
superfiuous water, rather level, or a little in
clined towards the South, SO as to promote
warmth. The width of the bed should be five
feet; the length in proportion to the quantity
OF asparagus wanted; and if there is more than
one bed, they should be divided by alleys
about two feet wide each.
Dig up the ground two spades deep, and If
the subsoil is rich, incorporate it with the sur
face soil, as the operation progresses but if the
subsoil is poor clay. or gravel. throw it aside,
and throw In the surface soil rrsn, the adjacent
ground. If the spot of ground selected is not
rich it should have plentiful dressing of well
rotted manure, which should be incorporated
during the progress Of the operation, making
the soil the richest near the surface of the bed
Break all clods. and rake smooth and level the
whole bed, which will now be raised nearly a
foot above the surrounding level. With the
garden line and the dibble mark off the entire
bed into shallow ch ecks; SIX inches both ways,
or square. Drop plant, two years old from
the seed, at every check; spreading out the
fbrous roots a little with the hand. When
the plants are al placed, cover hem four in.
ches deep. with rich, light. dark earth, or well
rotted manure. This should be prepared be-
forehand, and may be thrown on with dirt
shovel, and raked smooth, when the roots are
all covered This covering for the roots had
better be made of rich life mould from the
woods, or of we'll rotted sods. or what may
often be more convenient, well rot,ed chip ma
nure.
The bed is now ready for the plants TO grow
one year, during which time it will be only
necessary to keep it entirely free from weeds.
If it is probable that the bed should be much
infested with weeds, it will be advisable, as
soon as it is finished to sprinkle it with salt
until the surface is lhinly covered. The first
rain will desolyc the salt, which will Kill! all
the weeds, and will be good manure for the
asparagus plants, which luxuriate chiefly in
saline and alkaline manures.
AS early. every spring thereafter, as the Frost
and rain will admit, give the bed dressing
ten inches deep of well rctted manure prefer.
ring that from the stable, the cow.house, or
pig sty; though any well rotted vegetable mat
ter will do; and if it abounds in salts and
aikale SO much the better.
IL is not probable that the beds will ever be
raised too high, or that the roots will ever be
too deeply buried. as bed which produces
WIZ CoHSuIlle an lnCreulDle amount oil
manure; for which it will amply compensate
The crop may be cut some the seond year
after planting two year old roots; and viii. be
in full bearing for the next century
The Importance of planting thick is evident
from the fact that asparagus is propagated only
by the seed; each plant having but one nue..
leus or crown, from which the fibrous roots d.
verge. and from which the stalks spring
up; consequently no suckers or offsets are pro-
duced; and the number of plants in a bed is
never increased; though they increase in
size.
The asparagus bed will be a favorte resort
for both fowls and moles, neither of which
should be allowed to infest them. Brush
placed on the beds will be the best preventa.
tive of the former, and the spade of the gar
dener the best for the latter, which if allowed.
would grcately devour the roots and ruin the
bed.