The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-14

roots costs only little more, and some
times can be had as low as the oncy-ear
There are only a few varieties OF aspar-
agDs. Strictly speaking there are only
two, the green top and the pink. but
high cultivation has effected a marked
variation in the progeny Of the two varle-
ties. Not more than half a dozen sorts
appear in any catalogue, and two or three
of these may be considered identical.
Conover's Colossal. Moore's Cross-bred
Bars Mammoth, Early Argentenil and
the Palmetto are more names than it is
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 il in the high
est terms. It is very productive, early,
and very regular in its growth The edi-
tor of the American Garden saw bunch
OF this asparagus, raised by a Philade-
phia gardener, that was composed of fifty
shoots, two feet in length. The weight of
the bunch was thirty-one and one-half
pounds, and measured twenty-seven
inches around the middle. Large and
long as stalks were allowed to get, they
were all sufficiently tender for use. 1t is
not necessary that asparagus stalks be
anything like this size to render it a pala-
table dish. 1t is good enough when no
larger than the finger. OF course it is
desirable to have it larger than this, es-
pecially for market purposes. Roots of
the palmetto variety are much higher
than those of the other kinds, and win
probably be so for several years vet
When one cOntemplates starting aspara-
gus beds it is always advisable to include
few roots of all the kinds other than the
one he buys for the main crop.
1t is only persons who own their land
and feel settled who are likely to give
the most elaborate attention to aspara-
gus.
In establishing paintings Of this Tin
equaled vegetable, whether on 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. earli-
est.Nmost delightful dish of the table The
beds will require a manuring now and
then in the early winter, and a little
working of the soil then and just prior to
the renewal OF growth in February or
March.
Transplantings of the roots can be
made any time from November l TO
February (any time while the roots are
dorlnant) but the early setting is to be
preferred, if choice of the is permitted.
n AANii1 LOAAiAS oO4A 10 bllC uJoJ LUZ IIlb
purpose. A clay loan can be made to an
swer the purpose by the application of
amendatory materials like woods earth
and pine straw, the latter plowed in and
used also as mulch after planting. The
small beds of the home garden can be
made of proper texture by a little pains,
without reference to the character of the
soil. In most of our southern gardens,
however, suitable soil is readily secured
without h1 wing CTiyn nSvapeciyra 10 in,
the way of amending it.
In the small garden the narrow bed
plan, as recommended for strawberries
is the best Beds four and one-half or
five feet wide and as long as necessary (or
several short ones) should be bOrdered
with G-inch plank The soil should be
deeply broken. If trenched to a depth of
two and One-half to three feet, and plenty
OF good compost, into which a fair supply
of ground bone enters, incorporated with
the soil to depth of eighteen to twenty
four inches, it will be all the better
(Top dressings of proper manures
are to be applied afterwards) The
soil properly broken ana pulverized
and leveled open four trenches in this
bed deep enough and wide enough to re-
ceiVe the plants, whether one or two years
OLD. Spread out the roots of the plants
evenly as possible, having pruned of all
long and bruised roots from each plant
before commencing TO set out. Have the
trench deep enough to get The crown of
the plant three inches below the surface.
This is plenty deep, for the beds will nat
urally accumulate matter on top from
year to year and increase the depth of
soil
With a fair proportion of vegetable
matter distributed through the soil, a
mixture Of fine raw bone aud ashes will
make colossal asparages and plenty of it
from any kind of roots The second
spring after the setting out of one-vear-
Old roots, the beds will bear quite freely.
but should not be cut too closely until
strongly established
The following season after transplant
ing keep the beds free from weeds by nee
essary hoeings. Encourage the plants to
make good growth that and the next
season, moving down the stalks late in
the season in time to prevent their max
ing any seed. After the beds are estab-
IlShed, as soon as the cutting season is
over let the beds go to weed, but prevent
seed forming by moving in proper time
but defer the moving until it becomes
necessary.
Where grown on a large scale the rows
are laid four or five feet apart and the
plants set from IA to 18 inches in the row.
Manure and set after the manner some
what described for the beds. Contiguous
to a good market its culture may be made
very remunerative by those who under
stand the art of marketing such things
nicely.