The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-08-13
EMBANKM ENTS.

prevent the washlng away OF railroad
entertainments, cutting sides and other
unsodded soil surfaces by freshets and
heavy rain torrents. but no complete
preventive has yet been discovered that
I am aware of. Ihave seen the various
sorts of willows tried, but the roots Of
the willows are too coarse to prevent
small currents passing between them
under the main stem. Brush laid at
the bottom Of gulleys and washouts has
been tried. but it rots in such situations.
though 1t would last several years il
constantly submerged. OF various sorts
of grasses tried to prevent exposed sur
faces from washing away, . Canadian
friend tells me that blue grass, with its
numerous interlacing roots, is the best
to prevent washing away that he has
found, after much experimenting in
this matter.
Ten or . dozen years ago noticed
that the roots Of asparagus penetrated
very deep, throwing out many fine roots
as laterals, corresponding to the nu-
merous, fine. thread.like branches de-
veloped in its top growth. The long
roots Of this plant penetrate two to four
feet deep and rsnlify to - wide an ex-
tent. Thus, when the plants are thick.
asparagus supplies interlacing roots in
great abundance. and BY seeding thick
this plant can be easily made to fill the
soil with roots sufficiently so to pre-.
vent any small currents from washing
the soil from among them. As fine.
deep. growing roots In abundance can
be secured BY thick seeding. il appears
that in given quantity of soil--as .
cubic yard as many and As fine roots
as may be desired are easily obtainable.
It is true blue grass makes an excellent
sod. but It does not root half Is deep as
asparagus, 10 not so easy to handle, and
blue grass seed can only be seeded on
the surface and raked In or covered
with Q hand-haxrow.
Asparagus seed can be dibbled in
very rapidly and covered with garden
rake, Is follows: Make small harrow
! frame. with the beams one and one-half
inches apart. with five or six beams Sc
cured BY cross-ties. In these beams
wood teeth, similar 10 hay-rake teeth.
three-quarters Of an inch thick, can be
| inserted five or six inches apart, with q
suitable handle. This dibbler can be
| used to make twenty-five holes one inch
deep every time It Is set down. In this
way q large surface Of bare soil, on the
sides Of railway embankment or cut
ting, for instance, can be rapidly per-
meated with shallow holes, really to re-
ceive the asparagus seed. The area ia
be planted being made ready BY the
dibbler, SOW the seed by hand. aud
enough Of It will drop in or be raked
iAto the shallow holes to secure good
stand. It should 30 carefully covered
with y garden-rake and the surface
smoothed with the back Of large
shovel or large piece Of board with :
handle on, or with garden-roller N
cour . seed-drill can b used, il u
hand, the method suggested being for
cases where no drill Is available. II
asparagus seed be planted early in
spring Il win root deeply by midsum'
mer. 50 - NOT 10 Be injured by drought
and this plant ID 20 hardy that It has
not been injured even BY the severity q
last winter.
! OF couree any slopes on steep sur
faces, such . the banks Of small
streams, or railway cuttings aud en-
bankm,nts. should be prepared BY nil
ing holes, small wash. outs, ETC., and
smoothing over before dibbliDg or seed
ing. and & appean 10 The writer that
miniature forest II green plants CON
pletely filling the soil with roots an<
keeping it moist BY shading, would CIV
beautiful vernal aspect during mucl
Of the summer. while permanently pro
venting the damage.-IoUe CT. Cbss