Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-22
Asparagus.


The most common method of cultivation is
this: To prepare the ound for receiving
the roots, take out the soil eghteen inches or
two feet deep over the whole space of your
proposed bed put in at the bottom several
inches thick of broken bricks, old bones,
horn piths, leather, old mortar, and what
not /; :hen fill up the trench with light, warm
soil, heavily manure1, and plant the roots OF
the asparagus on the top, covering them with
few inches OF EARTH Most exec lent as.
paragus has been grown in this way, and
many still insist that it is the only way.
Hear Mr.. BUST, no mean authority in such
matters: The nest ground Tor asparagus is
a light, sandy loan, at lea,t two feet deep.
or trenched burying in plenty of manure.
The ground can scarcely be too rich. for the
sweetness and tenderness of the shoots depend
on the rapidity of the growth, which is great
ly promoted by the richness of the SOIL" Of
cour e, asparagus will live amid the sands of
the sea-shore and on the steppes Of Asia, but
to ensure a rapid and succulent growth,
desirable to fit it for a table dish, warm,
rich and deep soil Sc ms essential. In gardens
where the soil is naturally deep and rich, less
trenching and maturing will be needful. Of
one thing we arc convinced by experience,
viz: that the soil must be suitably dry. If
naturally wet and cold, it must be dr"ined,
and it it can not be drained let the bed be
built up foot or eighteen inches above the
ordinary surface Of the garden.
To propagate from seeds prepare tempo.
rary, bed in any common soil the same as for
bcets or onions. The numerous varieties
may all be resolved into two, the green top
purple top, the last being the best. 1.-The
Giant sort, sometimes highly extolled, is
gigantic only when well manured). Sow the
seeds early in Spring, thinly in drills, about
an inch and half deep, and in rows eighteen
inches a9art. Keep the beds free from weeds
during the Summer, water the plants in very
dry weather, and in the Fall cover them with
leaves or strawy litter two or three inches
deep. Next Spring the plants will be in a
rood state for setting out in permanent beds.
For an ordinary family, bed eighteen feet
ong and five wide, will furnish and album
ance AS ge cral thing much time will
e saved by buying one or two year old roots
rom nurserymen or commercial gardeners,
Who usually keep stock on hand.
The permanent bed having been prepared
'easonably deep, rich and with dry bottom,
stretch a line across it lengthwise, aud with a
,pade cut small furrow SIX inches Deep
Now, take up the roots from the seed-bed with
care not to break them and set them out again
n the burrows as soon as possible, so as not to
Suf,r them to become at all dry. Do not
Gro the roots into hole, but spread them
out carefully and nlingle the soil among them.
The plants should be nine inches apart in the
rows, and the crowns about two inches below
tie surface of the bed The first row being
planted, stretch the line again foot away
from the first, and pro eed as before. After
all the roots are planted, level off the bed,
raking stones and all rubbish into the walks,
and finish off the edges in neat and ork-
manke manner. For the first two Summers,
the beds should be tcpt clean, and every Fall
be covered with light coat of manure. 1t
is the practice OF some to raise lettuce and
radishes between the rows for two or three
years; but, as Mr.. Loudon says, ait is a
questionable practice, and should by no means
be continued after the plants have come into
bearing" The third year from seed the
young sprouts may be cut off for the table. A
bed VT Il made and afterwards cared for will
last many years.
The annual routine of culture for an es-
tabished bed is this; Keep always clear of
weeds. BY middle Of October, cut down the
ripe stalks and carry to compost heap. Cover
bed with three inches of mannre or leaves
In Spring, rake if the coarsest part of the
manure and fork the rest into the soil, tax
lug care not to injure the crowns of the
plants. 1t will do no harm, even if it does
little good, to sprinkle the beds every Spring
with salt. There are different opinions about
this practice. Keep the beds always smooth
and neat. The sprouts may be used for about
two months.