The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-07-11
Asparagus GGIasIre.

The following extract relating to the
cultivation Of this important vegetable IS
taken from an exhaustive article found
in the May number Of the chronological
Journal:
"Asparagus Is plant of slow growth
and Of long life. 1t is usually raised
from the seed, and until that mode of
propagation IS changed, much improve
meut in the varieties need not be eX-
pected. The plants are raised IN a seed
bed, and when they are in their second
year, they are placed in a bed which has
been made mellow and highly enriched
to a great depth, adding two quarts Of
salt to the square rod, and the roots are
placed in rows and covered with five
inches of soil. In the fall the tops are
to be cut and burned, and an inch or two
of soil and manure added. Every fall it
should have a top dressing Of manure
and salt. The second season the bed Is
to be treated in very much the same
manner, keeping it free from weeds, cut
ting and burning the tops, and adding
another dressing Of manure. The next
year it can be cut fer table use. 1t is
true this is sometimes done the previous
year, but it impairs the vigor Of the
plants, 50 does too frequent or too long
cutting. From the 10th to the 10Th Of
June in the Middle States, and from the
18th to the 25th in the Eastern States
and Canada, is as late as it is allowable
to cut it. Some portion should be eX
empted from cutting even earlier than
this, 50 that it can make large buds for
early spring use the subsequent year.
This is a matter which ladies who are
in the habit of going into their own gar
dens should study carefully. Some who
have not done so, and | fear their mum
Der IS not small have the impression that
after a plant has done blos.oming It's
leaves may as well be cut away as not. l
have seen peonias and dicentras thus cut
away, and asparagus even before it had
blossomed, and many other plants which
had passed their season of use, whatever
that NIGH: be. They did not seem to
understand that the leaves were the
lungs of the plants, and through them
only could the plant make roots and get
a stock Of vitality for its next years
growth. Some things, like Holland
bulbs, get this sooner than others, but
they grow and make roots IN the winter,
while other plants rest, and we cannot
make other plants follow them in this
respect. We need to study the laws of
ant,growth in general, and then learn
the exceptions and treat them accord
ipgly. And now the approach of an
other spring affords a favorable season
for doing this, and we hope that misses
who have school opportunities Of doing
so, and ladies who can pursue course Of
study by themselves, will take up bot
any, not because it is ''the thing to do,
but from reaTlove Of It's subjects and
desire to learn all they can about them.
They will find it more fascinating than
society, more useful than fancy needle
work, and more healthtul than dancing
The green part of asparagus is the
only part that is eatable, The buds
should be close and firm, and it should
be used as soon as possible after it IS cut
Reject it utterly If it has begun to decay
or wilt Marketmen have Il fashion of
keeping it day or two in some damp
place, but it degenerates in quality almost
as rapidly as green peas or corn.