The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-25
Mekinp Asparagus Beds.

4 Making Asparagus Beds.
AsnsraVus is one of the most delightful
NJ vegetables, and dish Of it we'll prepared
.. fit for Epicurus, Lucullus or any other
4 fa,tidious mortal; and our climate admits
I Of its being grown with the highest success
and in the greatest perfection. 1t is not as
easy 8 crop to grow as caooage OF oeets, or
nrher annual plants and for this reason
asDaragus has not been SO extensively grown
1sit should have been. The growing of
asparagus requires an amount OF patience
that no other crop demands, when one
attempts to grow it from the seeds. In this
case it requires three years to get the beds
in such condition as to produce good crop
OF asparagus.
It's by no means necessary, however,
that one resort to the tedious method of
growing asparagus from the seeds. Nova
days there are a great many persons who
make a business OF growing asparagus
plants for sale, and either 1-year,
2-year or 3-year-old roots can be
purchased at very reasonable prices
BY any one who desires to start bed small
or large As a general thing l-year-old
roots are the most desirable for that pur-
pose, but 2-year-old can be used frequently
to better advantage than the younger ones.
In small way 3-year-old roots are fire.
Guently used. By the most careful prepa-
ration, pruning and setting out OF the plants
they can be used to very good satisfaction.
As a practice it is we'll TO use half and
half of the 1-year and 2-year-old roots.
0neyear-old roots can be had for SIS per
1909, and less than this when several thou
sand are purchased. Two-year-old roots
cost only little more, and sometimes can
be had as low as the one year. There are
only few varieties ofiasparagus. Strictly
speaking there are only two, the green top
and the pink. but high cultivation has
effected marked variation in the progeny
OF the two varieties. Not more than half a
dozen sorts appear in any catalogue, and
two or three Of these may be considered
Identical
Conover's colossal, Morris cross-bred,
Barr's mammoth early argentinel and the
palmetto are more names that are really
necessary to mention in connection with
practical asparagus culture. The first
named is good enough and is the kind most
generally known and planted. Four or five
years ago the kind known as palmetto was
introduced, and those who have planted il
commend it in the highest terms. 1t is
very productive, early and very regular in
its growth. The editor Of the american
Garden saw a bunch of this asparagus
RAISED by Philadelphia gardner that was
composed of fifty shoots two feet in length.
The weight of the bunch was 3115 pounds.
aud measured twenty inches around
the middle. Large and long as the stalks
we're allowed 10 get, they we're sufficiently
tender for use. IL is not necessary that as
Iaragus stalks be anything like this size to
render it a palatable dish.
1t is good enough when no larger than
The finger. or course it is desirable to have
1t larger than this, especially for market
purposes. Roots of the palmetto varieties
are much higher than those OF the other
Kinds, and will probably be 80 for several
years yet. When one contemplates start
lng asparagus beds, it Is always advisable to
include IA few roots of all the kinds other
Than the one he buys for the main CROP It
Is only persons who own their land aud feel
settled who are likely to give the most elab-
crate attention to asparagus.
10 establishing paintings of this I'M
equaled vegetable, whether on a large or
small scale, the most careful regard for
every detail that tends to insure perfect
success should be joyfully given it. Once
well established the beds will endure for
many years, yielding the healthiest. earliest
and most delightful dish of the table. The
neds Will require nanuring now and then
IN the early winter and little working Of
tae soil then and just prior TO the renewal
oi growth In February or March. Trans
paintings Of the roots can be made any
time from Nov. to Feb ANY time while
tne roots are dormant), but the early setting
Is 10 be preferred if a choice OF time is per-
mitted
rich, loamy soil is the best for the
purpose. A clay loan can be made to
answer the purpose by the application of
anendatory materials like woods earth and
p,ue straw, the latter plowed in and used
ss9 as a mulch after planting. The small
oeus OF the home garden can be made Of
proper texture by little pains, without
Ieierencs to the character OF the SOIL IN
nnT
suI'aole soil is readily secured, without hav-
aug 70 give excessive labor in the way OF
omenolng It. In the small garden the mar
~" Oed plan, as recommended for straw
berries, is the best, Beds Az or feet
%iue, and as long as necessary Tor several
snort ones should be bordered with 6-inch
P,ank. The soil should be deeply broken.
IL Tenched to a depth of 215 to 8 feet
s e plenty Of good compost, into which
1aF supply of ground bone enters. in
SS"arPorated with the soil to depth of IS to
81 inches, It will be all the better. Top
uifesslhgs OF proper manures are to be APP
pued afterward.
Tue soil being properly broken and pull
ss ERRED and leveled, open four trenches in
sns oeo deep enough and wide enough to
IGGelVe the plants, whether one or two years
. onu; having pruned of all long and bruised
aooIs, spread out the roots of the plants as
eSehly as possible. Have the trench deep
81 enough to get the crown Of the plant three
" Tour inches below the surface. This is
plenty deep, for the beds will naturally &C
sSuhuiate matter on top from year TO year.
'nWyTeoy increasing the depth of soil.
With fair proportion OF vegetable mat
W oSr anistriouted through the soil, q mixture
sc me raw-bone and ashes will make
~ Solossal' asparagus from almost any kind
S VI roots. The second year after the setting
~ ut OF I-yesr-old roots the beds will begin
s ~ Dear quite freely, but should not be cut
closely until strongly established.
o. ne Following season after planting keep
we beds free from weeds by necessary
sSJIaplngs Of the surface. Encourage the
pants to make good growth that and the
tI season, moving down the stalks late in
que season, in time to prevert their making
go seed After the buds are perfectly
established q.