Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-05-24
Asparagus.

This vegetable requires deep and sandy
loam That found on the borders Of
meadows and lakes, and formed by the
washings of the higher grounds. is the
. best. 1t may be grown on the same
ground for many years without removal
The beds are sometimes formed 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 rotted manure
When 1t is to be grown on a large scale
deep and thorough pulvcrizing by the
pillow and Sub-sOiler serves instead Sow
the SEED III spring, as soon as the soil can
be worked, in rows one foot arart. Ii
strict attention is given to hoeing 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 It's 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 planting set a line and make a slanting
cut six 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 plant about three
inches. About a week after planting
touch the beds over lightly with a steel
rake to destroy terminating weeds. Con-
tinue the raking at intervals of a 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 5000 plants; from 5000 to 90
600 plants are required to the acre when
planted close. In inland districts the APP
piication of salt to asparagus as a top
dressing is of great benefit; in the vicinity
of salt water is is of little or mouse. 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 to the roots. 1t is destruc-
tive to the wire worm and other insects
that are troublesome to the aspara-
gus. Superphosphate of lime as a
spring tOp-dressing, sOWn 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 crop is cut in the succeeding spring.
The fall treatment OF asparagus beds must
vary with the locality. The common
practice of op-dressing in fall is a waste
f1l yvhpro IL tn
vide against severe cold, for as the plant
is dormant, the juices of themanure 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, II the
root has not been subjected to severe
freezing. In milder sections clear off the
stems as soon as withered, and clean the
bed, preparatory to giving dressing OF
two or three inches Of manure, which
must not be applied until spring. In
gathering the crop use caution not to In
jure the plant by continued cutting.
When the shoots begin 10 show. signs of
weakness all should be left to grow and
no more cut, in order to encourage the
formation Of fresh roots. During period
of ten years from the time the beds are
planted there is an average profit of $500
per acre. The asparagus beetle is very
Injurious in some localities. 1t can be
controlled by picking off and destroying
when it first appears, but if it becomes es-
tablished the task is hopeless. When
ever the eggs or Larvae appear cut and
burn the plant as long as there are any
traces of the insect, if it destroys every
vestige of vegetation. Y. Herald.
Tur reaI estate in Paris held bY or in