The Delaware farmer., 1883-09-14
CW X RE dF ASPARAGUS.


NAV he grown on the same ground for ten,
twelve. or more Years, if the beds are kept well
mapured. and the plants are properly attended
TO. tits, however. perfectly useless to attemptHs
cultivation unless this is done Althoughit is
crop for which the grower must wait two or
three years before he receives any returns YET
when once il comes into yielding a crop 1t is
yearly source of income, paying more IN propor-
zion TO the outlay upon it, than any Other Nege-
table. It's always in demand and wheh wen
grown ALWAYS brings remune sative prices. IL is
also vegetable that will keep four or five days.
or even a week, after being cut, and bears trans
,,or,a,ion well; the New York commission mer-
chants sending large quantities of it, TO the lead
ing cities North. East ard West OF that city' AHe
sunplv for the New York market comes manly
from New Jersey, and Long Island. On Long
Islnhd very large quantities are grown We
l,,ov, of one grower who has thirty acres OF IT. |
The profit from the crop ranges from szOO 10
SAOO Der acre. and the latter sum is often eX-
ceeded. but all derends upon the quality poor
thin straw like, stringy shoots bring hut Small
price but good, stout, succulent. quickly grown
shoots always sell we'll and bring good prices
Asparagus is a native OF sandy beaches often
overAowed by the sea; yet free from any accu'
nnlanon of water at the roots, hence it requires
deep. pervious. light soil ard perfectly dry
subsoi Delaware, and especially Sussex Co.
has hundreds of acres of such soil, and ought 10
produce large quantities of it. We have seen us
cultivation attempted in Sussex Co. but with
miserable results the produce beng crop oi
wiry shoots, scarcely one Of them being larger
than good sized rye straw ,and tile weeds near
" as plentiful as asparagus. Cultivation tcould
not be called The plants had been set IN the
ground, and left to take care of themselves IN
struggle with the weeds for an existence. But
tbis is the general rule with all crops, except
corn and wheat in Sussex county.
The roots of asparagus penetrated to consld-
erable depth, sometimes going down three OF
more feet into the soil; therefore in preparing
the soil for it, deep subsOil plOwng is necessary.
After a furrow is Opcued. a good quantity OF
manure should be laid in it and then the subsoll
plough should be run through the same turrow.
Some good lasting manure should be used, bone
dust. or ground bone is excellent for this purpose
Iftbe location is some distance from the sea,
shrinking OF salt with the bone dust Will DC
found useful.
The planting of the roots is preferably done in
the spring, They should be carefully set out IN
rows three feet apart and plants from twelve TO
eighteen inches apart Some plant them nine
inches apart but this ultimately becomes too
close and produces spindling shoots We should
prefer them about fifteen inches apart. Conslu-
erable care should be had to spread out the ROOFS
of the young plants. They should be covered
with soil at least two inches above the crown ;
and the soil pressed down upon them firmly with
the foot During the planting do not allow the
roos to be dried by the sun or wind, as III very
Injurious to them. Good one year old plants are
the best; some prefer them two years DID, but
shey have no advantage over the one year Ola
plants If they are well grown. At the distance
of loot apart on the rows 1890 plants will be
reouired to an acre at iiteeninches apart IL '6l6
pound of seed will produce about l5,OOu
plants.
If instead of buying the plants, which can DC
done cheaply Of any scotsman or nurseryman,
and year thereby saved; the farmer shouIu
nrefer TO raise his own plants, he can readily do
50 by following directions.
The ground for the seed bed should ne well
shaded or plOughed and narrowed to well pull
v.viye IL. Il should he enriched with liberal
ouantity Of vell.rotted manure. Theseed should
he somewhat sparingly sown in drills one Zoo
anart an inch or an inch and a-hah 10 depth
When they come up they should be thinnea or
to two or three inches apart. They must ne KEEP
serupulously clean Of weeds. as upon this th'
ouaIity of the plants will largely depend. The
seed NAV be sown from the irst of March to th'
middle of April. slight proteston OF salt hay
y ,ina shafts. OF leaves is desirable for the seed
led in winter time.
\I The cultivation Of the asparagus after II Il
Wanted IS very simple. In the early spring 'n'
Vground should receive yearly, top dreSslng
(uano, or super phosphate of lime' the iatIeI
rate of about SOC lbs to the acre, and also
,T0bt sprinkHng of salt. These should be hoe'
With a pronged hoe, or by a cultivate
a. lightly between the rows. The rows mus
ar be plowed, nor the soil disturbed 70
ater depth than two or three inches, as oe
Nthat depth the roots would be cat on. Ne
Ned should be allowed to grow and ever.
I'M tbat shows flower, or seed pod should o
II ant. as nothing tends more to weaken
Il A.ban seed.bearng. In the winter season
ae ~ es the tops are dead, they should De Gu
of ana burned upon the land, spreading tn
ashes vlgh add somewhat to the fertility OF tn
soil. In lEer Delaware the climate IN Winte
is go mild lat winter protection is not necessary
a,itisat Il north, still top dressing Of msnur
two or ,br. inches thick. laid over the crowns
the plants ,Ould be beneficial both as isruli1'
and as a proectiOn.
The Ratbdng of the crop and preparing
for marR.. 4 shall speak Of at another Oppo
funitv