The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-03-29
TO TIlLERS OF THE SOIL.
Hints That May Prove Of Benefit TO
Our KsIghbOTS,
Articles d Bmagh,si KTth 10 The Farmer Collected
From RELIABLE Sources
ASPARAGUS CULTURE.

been cultivated as q Satutu NeSetdHIe
/ for at least two thousand years. Cato
/ gives detailed description OF the Roman
method of culture one hundred and fifty
years before the birth of Christ. Wild
asparagus is found on the sea coast OF
some parts of Europe. 1t was formerly
thought that there was but one variety,
and that the apparent difference was
caused by the locality, texture OF soil
and different modes of cultivation, but
of late years it is generally conceded by
experienced horticulturists and botanists
that there are distinct and improved
varieties.
The growing OF asparagus in California
has been neglected in the past. The IN
creasing demand and consequent remun-
erative prices obtained for this vegetable
as well as its availability for transporta-
ton, when we take into consideration
the large area that is well adapted for
the successful cultivation of this succu-
lent hardy perennial plant surely rend-
ers it an object worthy OF the careful at
tention OF the gardener
As general rule asparagus thrives
best near the sea coast, where the humid
saline air seems to be better adapted for
its growth.
1t can be, and is, successfully grown
far from the coast and on almost any
kind of soil. The soil best adapted for
growing asparagus is deep, rich sandy
loan, and as it is gross feeder the plot
cannot well be made too aich; unless the
manure is buried so deep as to loose its
fertilizing qualities, ETC., the roots reach
it. For instance, the old laborious and
expensive way of trenching two or more
feet deep, with the manure mixed to the
bottom, on most soils it would lose its
strength before the roots would pene-
trate so deep. Yet great care should be
used in the beginning, for if rightly
planted and properly cared for, the crop
should be as good or better at twenty or
twenty-five years as at three or four
years from the starting Of the bed, but
the above mentioned excessive deep
trenching is considered Unnecessary, but
deep ploughing and thorough pulveriz-
ing is not to be neglected. BestOw
liberal quantity OF fertilizers, for it is
this which help give the quick growth
OF tender shoots, and to secure them OF
good size and also, if we want our bed
to last quarter of a century, we must
not crowd our plants at the start. The
rows should be four feet apart and the
plants eighteen inches between each
other in the rows, and even more room
would be better if the land S not too
valuable. We like the following mode
OF planting for field culture: Alter
ground is well ploughed and finely har-
rowed, marx out the rows the desired
distance apart with a pillow by going
twice in each row, throwing furrow
each way from the center OF the row, and
from eight to twelve inches deep; then
go one or more rounds in this with a
cultivator close up, SO as to loosen up the
the soil well in the bottom OF the row.
Now, ii You have any fine fertilizer put
it in the row where you want to set your
plants, mix well with the soil and set
your plants over it.
The work OF planting can be done any
time from November till April, or even
later. We ike early planting the best.
Use one year old plants; they are better
than older ones ii they have been prop
erly grown. Place the plants in the
bottom OF the prepared furrow, spread
about two or three inches-the lighter
the soil the deeper the plants should be
placed-so as to secure the proper mois-
ture till they begin to strike root. After
the planting has been done a week or
ten days, the rows should be gone over
with light steel garden rake, or, ii the
rows are even enough, would prefer the
wheel hoe with the rakes on, and stir
the soil the whole length OF the rows.
Then when the shoots begin to grow and
show themselves three or four inches
high, the soil should be gradually hoed
or cultivated to the plants till the sur,
face is level. The ground should be
kept moist, and in most localities irriga.
ton will be found necessary to secure
the best results.
Do not neglect thorough cultivation
but after theroots begin to fill the ground
do not work too deep, as there is danger
OF injuring them. Do not cut any shoot:
the first year after planting, and but
sparingly the second, as it weakens the
plant when cut so young. Ii the after
care, as recommended further on, i:
carried out, the bed should increase in
yield for three or four years. The edible
part OF the plant is the undeveloped
stems. These, if cut away as they ap.
pear, will be replaced by others which
start from the crown. Cut all the shoots
clean at each cutting during the season,
whether they are large enough to use OIL
not, for if part OF stalks are allowed to
grow they will prevent other buds from
throwing up stalks, and make your
seasons cutting short. Keep the ground
well cleaned during the harvesting
period, and if you have been liberal with
your fertilizers and have kept your
ground moist, your crop will last as late
as probable demand is likely to exist.
. Yet beware OF nrnlnnninnr tho hnr,os.;,.