Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1909-06-04
CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS.
How to Prepare the Ground and Set
the Roots.

the Roots.
As n garden vegetable asparagus
was cultivated more than 1000 years
ago among the Greeks aud Romans.
II Is generally supposed to be native
of Europe and Asia. Among the hard
lest OF plants, II will endure neglect
Quite frequently stalks are found
along the roadside and In fence cor
ners. where they live for years with
out attention. But nevertheless as
paragus responds TO kind treatment.
Practical asparagus growers OF the
state OF New Jersey prefer planting In
the spring. They set the roots six 10
ten inches deep and cover very lightly
at first. say two or three inches. the
remainder being gradually filled In
during the summer.
Roots may be planted as late rs July
l and even later. Early planting.
however. gives them chance to make
some growth OF tops before winter
sets I'm. There is no danger OF getting
the soil too rich. Starved roots are one
great cause OF rust
The next fall after setting give the
bed heavy coat OF stable manure.
and the spring following use nitrate
OF soda. After that Il is advised to
use stable manure one year and com
mercial fertilizer the next and nitrate
OF soda every spring.
In preparing FOR asparagus II is best
IN cai....f an - N 10 oil
drained and one that has had good
manurlng ana clean cultivation for n
year or two previous TO planting.
Plow as for other crops. but make Il
ms deep as soil and good Judgment viii
permit. II subsoil is hard and com
pact, subsoillng would be beneficial.
The asparagus plant is comparatively
n deep rooter and has been known 60
he traced over three feet below the
surface. Flowing may be done ut al
most any time. but at time OF setting
plants replow with one horse. striking
back burrows between every row.
Then make row for plants I'm each
dead furrow Use no stable manure
I'm rows mt time OF setting IL induces
mice To work there. and they will Kill
n good many crowns. Chemical fer
tiizcr or good grade OF bone dus
ana little murlatc OF potash. miXet
and applied I'm burrows after the plants
are set. are beneficial: also light dress
Ing or two OF nitrate of soda through
the growing season is valuable.
Frequent ana thorough cultivation Il
one OF the essentials TO successful
paragus culture. and this can NOR
easily and chcaply be obtained by set
ting In spring than otherwise.
Asparagus needs Il large amount O
nitrogen. The droppings from the hen
house are excellent. as also the refus
from the horse stable. Both can h.
spread ON the old bed and worked int
the ground before cold weather. Tn
results VIII bc I'm evidence next spring
The method of New York grove
which has been fully and thorough.
tried is TO dig trenches three feet dee
and one and one half feet wide. pu
; In the bottom well rottcd manure &
the depth of one foot; then flll tn
trenches TO within six inches of tn
surface with the soil thrown out nn'
well rottcd manure In equal proper
lions. thoroughly mixed and pressed
down with the feet. Make n shalloy
trench for the seed. which should b
sowed thlnly. covered half an inch an,
> then the soil packed firmly over tn
seed. When the plants appear. thin
two feet apart I'm the drill. As In
plants Increase I'm height fill up tn
trench 10 the level OF the ground.
D Before a heavy frost comes I'll
i plants VIII have made growth OF q
| least three feet and from six TO &C.
plants from each seed. Before winte
remove the tops. sprinkle the surfac
OF the bed with common salt. then COY
er with coarse litter from the stab
and leave until spring. when all stra'
should be raked Off and the bed tho
oughly forked I'm.
The first season cuttings should NJ
be made later than June 10.