The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-05-24

This vegetable requires deep and sandy
loan. That found on tho borders of
meadows and lakes, and formed by the
wsshings Of the higher grounds, is the
best. 1t may be grown on the same
ground for many years without removal.
The beds are sometimes forned by trench
ing to the depth of two or three feet, mix
ing each layer of soil as turned over with
two or three inches of well Fotted manure.
When it is to be gsown on 4 large scale
deep and thorough pulveizing by the
pillow and sub-soiler serves instead. Sow
the seed in spring, as soon as the soil can
be worked, in rows one foot arart. If
strict attention is given to boeing and the
plants kept clear from weeds they will be
sufficiently advanced to plant out the sue
ceeding spring. If the seed bed is neg
lected the plants will be two years in
growing as large as they would in one if
properly cared for. 1t is this common
neglect which has given rise to the impress
sion that the plants must be two or three
years old before planting out. A crop
should be marketed the third year from
the time of sowing. Planting may be
done any time for six or eight weeks from
the opening of spring. Although the plant,
on account of its peculiar succulent roots
is less susceptible to injury from late plant
ing than most other vegetables, yet the
sooner it is planted the better will be the
result. When the crop is to be extensive
ly grown, plant in rows three feet apart,
the plants nine inches apart in the rows.
In plnntiAg set a}ine end make siauting
cut ~ or eight inches deep; lay the
plants against the side Of the trench, care
fully spreading the roots. Cover the
crown or top Of the plsAt about three
inches. About q week After planting
touch the beds over lightly with q steel
rake to destroy terminating weeds. Con-
tinue the raking at intervals of q week or
so, until the plants start to grow; then use
the hoe between the rows and alleys; pull
out the weeds that come up close to the
plant by hand. One pound of seed will
produce 8 1000 plants; from $1,000 TO TO-
900 plants are required to the acre when
planted close. In inland districts the APP
psication of salt to asparagus as top
dressing b Of great benefit; in the vicinity
of salt water Is Is of little or no use. When
used apply in spring only, strewing on the
surface from two to three pounds per
square yard. The rains will dissolve and
wash it down 30 the roots. 1t is destruc-
tive to the wire worm and other insects
that are troublesome to the aspara.
gus. Superphosphate of lime as q
spring top-dressing, pown on the beds at
the rate Of 500 pounds per acre, and hoed
in, will show difference of nearly one
foot in height of the stalks and differ.
ence of nearly double the product when
The fall treatment of asparagus bells must
~,avr~ x,{xI, che y>oolstx, frko oor,,,,n,,
practice of top-dressing in fall y a waste
full one, where IL Is not necessary to pro-
vide against severe cold, for as the plant
is dormant, the juices Of the manure either
evaporate or are washed down below the
roots. In climate where the frost would
penetrate below the roots, a covering of
three or four inches of leaves or rough
manure should be applied. 1t is an en-
tirely hardy plant, but will start earlier
and with greater vigor in the spring, if the
root has not been subjected to severe
freezing. In mildsr sections clear of the
stems as soon as withered, and clean the
bed, preparatory to giving q dressing of
two or three inches of manure, which
must not be applied until spring. In
gathering the crop uss caution not to in
iure the plant by continued cutting.
When the shoots begin to show signs of
weakness all should - left to grow and
no more cut, in order 10 encourage the
formation Of fresh rooas. During period
of ten years from IL time the beds are
planted there is an average profit of 800
per acre. The aep<11lus beetle is very
Injurious n ep1le localities. 1t can be
controlled brt7ckin0 On and destroying
when II firy hppear1 INT u it becomes es-