The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-06-17
CULTURE or ASPARAGUS.

How to Prepare the Ground and Set
the Roots.
AS a garden vegetable asparagus
was cultivated more than 1000 years
ago among the Greeks and Romans.
1t is generally supposed to be a native
of Europe and Asia. Among the hard
lest OF plants, it will endure neglect
Quite frequently stalks are found
along the roadside and in fence cor
ners. where they live for years With
ont attention. But nevertheless as
marquis responds to kind treatment.
Practical asparagus growers Of the
state of New Jersey prefer planting in
the spring. They set the roots six to
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 as July
1 and even later Early planting.
however, gives them chance to make
some growth Of tops before winter
sets in. 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 a heavy coat of stable manure.
and the spring following use nitrate
of soda. After that it Is advised to
use stable manure one year and COM
mercial fertilizer the next and nitrate
of soda every spring.
In preparing for asparagus it is best
to select piece of ground that is well
drained and one that has had good
manuring and clean cultivation for
year or two previous to planting.
Plow as for other crops, but make 1t
as deep as soil and good judgment will
permit If subsoil is hard and COM
pact. subsoiling would be beneficial.
The asparagu plant is comparatively
a deep rooter and has been known to
| be traced over three feet below the
surface Flowing may be done at 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 in each
dead furrow. Use no stable manure
| in rows at time of setting. 1t induces
| mice to work there and they will kill
a good many crowns Chemical fer
| tilizer or a good grade of bone dust
and little muriate of potash, mixed
and applied in 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 and thorough cultivation Is
| one of the essentials to successful as
paragus culture, and this can more
easily and cheaply be obtained by set
| ting in spring than otherwise.
| Asparagus needs large amount OF
nitrogen. The droppings from the hen
house are excellent, as also the refuse
from the horse stable. Both can be
spread on the old bed and worked into
the ground before cold weather. The
results will be in evidence next spring.
The method of a New York grower
| which has been fully and thoroughly
tried is to dig trenches three feet deep
l.
In the bottom well rotted manure to
the depth of one foot; then fill the
trenches to within six inches Of the
surface with the soil thrown out and
well rotted manure in equal proper
lions, thoroughly mixed and pressed
down with the feet. Make shallow
trench for the seed, which should be
sowed thinly, covered half an inch and
then the soil packed firmly over the
seed. When the plants appear, thin tt
two feet apart in the drill. AS the
plants increase in height fill up the
trench to the level Of the ground.
4 Before a heavy frost comes the
plants will have made a growth Of at
least three feet and from six to ten
plants from each seed Before winter
remove the tops, sprinkle the surface
of the bed with common salt, then COW
er with coarse litter from the stable
and leave until spring, when all straw
should be raked off and the bed thor.
oughly forked in.
The first season cuttings should not
be made later than June Is.