New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-07-30
About Asparagus.

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HAVING had in former years large
experience in planting, and growing.
and marketing asparagus, I claim to
know something of how best to do this
thing.
Five or six years ago planted, at
Alton, ILL.,, q forty-acre field to aspara-
gus, and cultivated it for three years,
when sold tho farm. The third year
from planting, l sold the crop for
81 500. less commissions, in Chicago.
1t was always favorite crop with me,
and prided myself upon my methods
and success in it.
will describe just how I COM
menccd, 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 vas in the
season, purchased the seed and sowcd
it, growing 100, 900 plants TINT 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 do
equally we'll with that planted on the
bottOm-lands.
planted in the early spring, thor
oughly preparing the ground by deep
blowing and narrowing, and marking
with pillow both ways, four feet apart.
Tho 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 would for
potatoes. I covered them about the
depth you would cover potatoes. I
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.
Thespractice Of deep planting, eight
inches under ground, practiced by
some, avoided carefully, knowing
that the money was in having early
cuttings. II planted deep, the crop
comes late.
The cultivation is no mystery. Its
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.
My method Of preparing for market
was this: Cut the asparagus green
that is, cut it ab0Ue ground, not under
the ground. This is another reason
why I do not plant eight or ten inches
under ground, as the manner Of some
White or bleached asparagus, from
being cut under ground, Is not salable
in the Chicago market, as ordinarily
grown. With great labor and special
care it can be grown white, and be ten
der and good; but few will give it the
care and manure to succeed in this.
The call here is for green asparagus.
But the heads Of the asparagus must DO
solid.
Tie the asparagus in uniform bunch
es, about twenty lunches to 8 one third
bushel box. used . measure to make
the punches uniform, and tied with
label COTTON string one inch wide and
eleven inches long with the growers
name printed upon it, as o guarantee
that the article was honestly put up.