Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-16
Asparngus.--.IEow to Cultivate Et.

Few farmers, or others, but that like good
dish of well-cooked asparagus when they can
get it in spring or early summer; but com
paratiyely few of those who pride themselves
on having good garden affect to grow it, APP
pearing to think there is some mystery about
raising asparagus, and the mystery under
stood by only the few, or that it is attended
with difficulty and much labor. There is
little reason for wonder Mt this impression
when we come to read directions given by
writers in our agricultural and horticultural
journals, where they have so mystiied and
elaborated the culture as to deter very many
from planting this early and delicious vegeta-
BILE. In many of their prosy distortions we
read about SOIL aspect, digging deep trenches
removal of subsoil, about old bones, boots
shoes, etc, rs indispensable in the prepare
ton of asparagus beds; when, in fact, the
culture of no garden vegetable is more simple
or attended with less labor. Asparagus will
grow in any soil sufficiently fertile and suita-
Bile to produce a good crop of corn or pota-
toes, and when once planted requires less Ia
Dor to care for the same. In our garden, we
have a small bed four years planted with one
year-old roots which has yielded us cuttings
for two seasons. The preparation and cul-
ture of the bed was as follows; The soil be-
ing very thin, portion having been removed
for grading, was lightly manured and spaded
to the depth of about eight inches, setting the
roots about one foot apart, with the crown
from two to three inches below the surface.
All the care given ii since has been to pull out
the weeds during summer, giving it light
dressing, broadcast, of superphosphate after
the last cutting cleaning off the old stocks in
the fall, and raking over with an iron rake in
spring to stir the surface soil a little the last
season it gave us a fair crop, no doubt but
that it would have paid better if we had given
it more fertilizers but l wish to show how
easy every farmers family may enjoy this
luxury, and that it is not absolutely necessary
to go through all the routine of manipula-
tons taught by theorizing gardeners.
Now, for an asparagus bed made good
| enough for either the farmer or amateur cul-
tivator which will last him many years, Sc
lect an average good soil in u sunny location
aud spade it ten to twelve inches deep, work
ing into the soil heavy coat Of rich manure
and compost wood-ashes and salt, in the pro-
portion of about one of salt, two of ashes and
| forty of manure, mix it well through the soil.
Strong ono year-old roots are good as any,
but where strong one-year ones cannot be had
| get two-years- old, see that they are of even
| size, good roots, etc. If space is limited, set
the roots one foot apart, spreading them we'll,
| covering the crowns two or three inches below
| the surface, set them in spring soon as can be
| well done; when set and the surface of bed
evened off, give it a dressing of an inch or
more of manure or rich compost. Keep clear
of weeds by manipulating; in the fall annual
ly after frosts, cut the foliage clear OFF the old
stalks and cover the bed three or four inches
deep with long coarse manure. Early in
spring rake off the strawy portion and work
the fine manure lightly into the soil-or SUI
perphosphates may be sown over the bed af-
ter finishing cutting in June or early July A
sandy loan, deep, rich, and well-drained is
the best for asparagus, but almost any we'll
drained soil with a sunny exposure will do
rightly, prepared rs above. 1t is quite i'm
portant that the bed should be well-drained,
have a sunny exposure and located where sur
face water will not stand for any length OF
time quick growth gives us the best aspara-
gus, tender and juicy.
A bed may be started from seed, by sowing
in rows, covering the seed about one inch
deep and thinning out the plants to one foot
apart when fairly established. If our loca-
ton is in the vicinity of the ocean or saliva
ter, little or no benefit will be derived from
salt but away from that influence, light
dressing annually is of benefit. Beds started
from seed will require one or two years more
time in coming 10 the cutting stage than il
started from roots.-COr GcTHldHtOpH TEL