The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1909-06-04
CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS.
How to Prepare The Ground and Set
the Roots.

an# E" -rLF 49,
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
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 to
ten inches deep and cover very lightly
at first, say two or three inches, the
remainder being gradually filed in
during the summer. ~.
Roots may be planted as late as July
/ and even later. Early. planting.
however, gives them a 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
inercial fertilizer the next and nitrate
of soda every spring.
In preparing for asparagus it is best
10 select q piece Of ground that Is we'll
drained and one that has had good
'manuring and clean cultivation for a
year OF two previous to planting.
Plow as for other crops. but make it
as deep as soil and good judgment will
permit. If subsoil is hard and com
pact, subsoiling would be beneficial.
The asparagus 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 n horse. striking
back burrows between every row.
Then make a 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 rowns Chemical fer
tlizer or a good grade of bone dust
and a little muriate Of potash. mixed
and applied in burrows after the plants
are set, are beneficial; also a light dress
ing or two Of nitrate of soda through
;th2ea 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
iiny!in Spring than otherwise.
Asparagus needs a 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
will be in evidence next spring.
The method Of a New York grower
which has been fully and thoroughly
tried lis tic dig trenches three feet deep
and jne and one-half feet wide. Put
in the bottom well rotted manure to
ttbe depth of one foot; then fill the
trenches to within six inches of the
surface with the soil thrown out and
well rotted II in equal proper
lions. thoroughly mixed and pressed
down with the feet. Make Il 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 TIC
two feet apart in the drill. AS the
plants increase in height fill up the
trench to the level of the ground.
Before q 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. h e COW
+r with coarse litter from the stable
and leave until spring. when all straw
should be raked off and the bed thor
,ougnly forked in.
The first season cuttings should not
l,e. made later than June Is.
IT. NAR>-4- -