The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-24

ASPARAGUS GROWING INA COMMERCIAL WAY
The asparagus crop is probably the
most sensitive as to weather conditions
of any grown. II the weather is cold
and dry, it will make but feeble,
slow growth; on the contrary, it
warm, with frequent showers, the
plant will come on rapidly. Last
year the latter conditions on Long
Island prevailed very early in the sea-
son, some two weeks before the can.
ners were ready to commence packing.
The result was that nearly third OF
the crop had to be shipped to New
York and other markets, causing such
glut that in many cases it did not
pay expense OF shipment. When the
Gamers were ready to take 1t, the
cold, dry weather set in, so that not
much, if any, more than nalf an aver
age crop was put up.
The same condition prevails this
year, only much earlier, so the
growth commenced before the beds
were ridged up. The two factories,
the one at Riverhead and the other at
Mattituck, take nearly all grown in
this famous asparagus section, which
extends from Calverton to Peconic,
distance of about twenty miles, al.
though o large proportion OF it ls
grown within a radius of five miles
from Mattituck, in which district there
are probably about 200 acres old
enough for cutting three or more
years., and many acres coming on.
The price paid the grower this year is
50 per 100 punches for No. and s.
ior culls. The latter is cut short and
put up as "tips," which retail at about
one-third less than the first quality,
which is put up in square boxes. The
tips are packed in round cans, and are
sold as second quality, when, in real
ity, the asparagus is much better than
the first quality.
The question IS often asked. Is as
paragus profitable crop? That de.
pends upon circumstances. At the
present price which the canrers pay,
50 per 100 buncnes, it is good crop,
much better than potatoes at sixty
cents per bushel. With good cultiva'
tion, the average yield is $500 bunche:
per acre, and the cost for labor is nc
more than for an acre of potatoes.
The best growers apply ton of high
grade fertilizer annually, per acre,
one. half early in the spring and one.
half after plowing the ridge down
in July. If the cost of labor is the
same as for an acre Of potatoes, tht
relative cost OF production can be
easily determined. Some growers say
it. is three times as much work to take
care of given acreage of asparagus.
as of potatoes; admitting it, the rela'
tive cost IS easily ascertained.
While at tine present price the CROP
is profitable one, this Is by no
means certain. The growers are in
the hands of the Gamers, and must
take just what they are disposed to
give, as there is no other market.
Without the Gamer the plants might
as we'll be pIowel up, from the tact
that the pro luctlon, being so great
could not be disposed OF. Aspar&s s,
like strawberries, must be sold as
soon rs cut, because OF its perishaOle
nature, and there is SO much grown
now that it is not possible to consume
it when fresh. This was shown plainly
last year, when. during the ten days
it was being cut before the Gamers
commenced operations, portion of
the time it did not pay the expense OF
shipping. Gamers contract only tor
what they can handle between May
and July l, packing about 5000 cans
ner daY.-American Agrlculturlst.