The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-15
About Asparagus.

HAVING had in former years large
experience in planting, and growing
and marketing asparagus, I claim tc
know something of how best to do this
thing.
Five or six years ago 1 planted, al
Alton, ILL.,, forty-acre field to aspara,
gus, and cultivated it for three years,
when I sold the farm. The third year
from planting, sold the crop fol
81, 500, less commissions, in Chicago
1t was always favorite crop with me,
and l prided myself upon my methods
and success in it. 80
I will describe just how com.
menced, proceeded and achieved salts
factory success in growing asparagus
for the Chicago market in the latitude
of Alton.
It was in the year 1871, as late as
June l, that the idea struck me that
would have mammoth plantation OF
asparagus; and, late as it was in the
season, I purchased the seed and sowed
it, growing 100, 900 plants that year.
The next spring the main plantation
was set. The soil was chiefly rich bot.
tom-land. A few acres were planted
on the hills; and, on the loose soil Of
the Alton hills, the crop seemed to dc
equally well with that planted on the
b0ttom-lands.
Iplanted in the early spring, thor.
oughly preparing the ground by deep
blowing and narrowing, and marking
with pillow both ways, four feet apart.
The plants were dropped in the places
where the burrows intersect and covered
with q hoe, stepping upon the hill GOV
cred, to press the earth upon the plants
just as you would drop and cover
potatoes. l spent no more labor and
care, either in the preparation of the
soil or in planting, than I would fol
potatoes. I covered them about the
depth you would cover potatoes.
considered it wholly impracticable and
unnecessary to trench two or three feet
deep, and bury bones and manure
which would be very expensive and
does not pay.
The practice of deep planting, eigh,
inches under ground, practiced by
some, I avoided carefully, knowing
that the money was in having early
cuttings. If planted deep, the crop
comes late. - :
The cultivation is no mystery. It ID
simply to keep the plows and hoes
going constantly, to keep down weeds
and keep the soil loose during the grow.
ing season. Give all the barnyard ma,
nure you have, and buy all you are
able to buy; but don't impoverish
yourself. You will get good aspara,
gus on rich soil without manure. pro
vided you keep stirring the soil. There
is an immense reservoir of fertilizers
in the air, which . mellow soil will
drink in. AZ
My method Of preparing for market
was this: Cut the asparagus green
that is, cut it above ground, not xssde,
the ground. This Is another reason
why do not plant eight or ten inches
under ground. a. the manner of some
is. .sss =u, -, 50, :, -.
White or blaached. asparagus, from
being cut under ground, is not salabl(
in the Chicago market, - ordinarily
grown. As With great labor and specis
care it can be grown white, and be ten.
der and good; but few will give it the
CWE0 8AAU uA80UE0 W 0UCC06O IN THIS,
The call here il for green asparagus
But the heads Of the asparagus must bs
solid. s''5 - u y
Tia the asparagus in uniform bunch.
es, about twenty punches to . one-third
bushel box. l used q measure to make
the lunches uniform, and tied with I
label COTTON string one inch wide and
eleven inches long) with the growers
name printed upon it, a. q guarantee
that the article was honestly put up.
saw in the market yesterday thu
asparagus from this farm il still put ur
in this way. The shipping from thfi
plantation. I am informed. is at thi.
time about 100 one third bushel boxel
Per day, and commenced ten DAYS a9o,
The first shipment brought a per bon,
Yesterday it sold for $3.50 Per box
en9 ene prospect now IL. that the pric.
that there = money "a Il 4 tais pfic ,,
There b danger now, hovteyer. ~,