Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-11
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
ASPARAGUS BEDS.
Some Good Advice on Starting, Care
 and Protection.


 Concerning small asparagus beds in home gardens the Rural New Yorker says:
 Planting: Asparagus being a hardy perennial, of long life, lasting under favorable conditions 20 years or more it pays to give special attention to the preparation of the soil where it is to remain permanently. The bed should receive an application of two or three inches of well-rotted manure and be either spaded or plowed in as deeply as possible, mixing the manure with the soil as thoroughly as it can be done and in addition liberal quan- tity of raw bone meal may be used in the furrow at time of planting with considerable advantage. On account of the soft spongy nature Of the roots and their tendency to decay when bruised or broken in the fall, it is not considered good practice by most of the successful growers to plant aspar- agus at that time, as almost 1nVar1a- bly, much of the planting, is lost through decay in the winter following whereas the spring-set plants seldom if ever are lost from this cause.
 The planting may be successfully done time in spring from the time the ground Is in condition to work up to the time growth starts but the sooner good condition for working the better the result. When planted in a small way for private use, and particularly vixen 1t is necessary to economize on ground space, plant in beds or strips, say six feet wide in which three rows are to be planted, a row on each side about 12 inches from the edge and one in the middle of the bed, setting the plants 12 to 14 inches apart in the row.
 When the plants are set care should be taken to spread the roots out so that the soil may be easily. worked in among them, covering the crowns about three inches deep. By going over the bed every few days with a steel rake, we destroy germinating weeds and keep the beds clean until the sprouts appear above ground, when hoe cultivation will be neces- sary. If two beds or more are made running parallel to each other, walks "A to 30 inches wide should b cleft be- tween them. This method of culture is of course only suitable for the pro- duction of green asparagus. When white sprouts are desired the plants should be set in rows three feet apart and 12 to IA inches apart in the row. This distance between the rows will be sufficient to admit of ridglng. Good clean cultivation is necessary during the growing season and should in nc wise be neglected if good grass is to be grown.
 Fertilizing: This is quite important
 
 piled twice each season. early in the spring and at the close of the cutting l season, and may be varied with grea ! benefit to the plants. A good coat o- | fine well-rotted manure applied il early spring and worked into the soi with a spading fork, (care being take1 not to injure the crowns of the plants, and a coat of raw bone meal applied i at the rate of half a ton to the acre and worked into the soil at the close | of the cutting season, will give mos | excellent results. This method O. manuring supplies the plants with al the manurial constituents they neeG for vigor and the production of first. | class sprouts. F. zet s1 | Winter protection: While the as paragus is perfectly hardy in nearl! all sections, yet where the ground freezes deeply, it will be quite ben eft to the plants if they receive { mulching of forest leaves or straw! manure at the beginning of winter the plants will go through the winte in better condition and start earlie and with greater vigor in the spring | than if they have no protection. Thi mulching should be removed early s' that the spring fertilizing may b. done before growth starts. The Argen tile is possibly the best all-rount | variety.