The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1917-05-05

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= PROF. JWlLLAED DOLIT
Copyright. Western Newspaper union)
HOME GROWN ASPARAGUS.

One of the incest things about be
ing backyard farmer is the fact
that you can have all Of the asparagus
that you want to eat If you just take
the trouble to once plant IT, You Will
never have TO plant it again and the
bed will keep right on producing al
most as long as the house will last.
II you like asparagus at all YOU like
II mighty will, as il is one OF those
vegetables OF very decided character
which are either extremely popular or
equally unpopular.
Few people realize that asparagus
not only has sort Of medicinal value
but that II actually contains as much
muscle forming food as does a similar
weight OF meat 1t has very high
protein content and should be much
more generally grown than it Is.
II you have sunny patch OF
ground. twelve feet long by about
Six feet wide or more, you can plant
1t to asparagus at very little ex-
pense, and next year and each sue.
ceeding year you will have all the
asparagus that your family can eat.
The plants will begin to come through
the ground early in the spring and
will remain in edible condition under
proper handling until well into hot
weather or course you could cut
few stalks the first year but your re-
suits will be very much better In the
end If you do not attempt to use any
OF the crop until the following year.
Asparagus must have a compara-
lively light, fertile, well drained soil.
Heavy clay will not grow satisfac-
tory asparagus and if your garden IL
heavy and Geld you will get much
better results by excayating bed or
trench to u depth OF lS inches or 2
feet and fillihg in the hole with mel
low sandy loam before planting.
1t is better to plant asparagus on
soil that has been used for garden
for several years than to put 1t in
newly broken soil Spade the ground
as deeply as possible, the deeper the
better, as the roots run deep and do
not do well in very compact soil.
Then fine the soil with hoe and rake
until it is in a fine mellow condition,
although not necessarily as fine as for
seed. Tnis should be done about the
first OF May In most climates. al
though 1t may be done much earlier.
In the south.
The plants cost between one and
three cents each, depending upon the
size and variety. They should We Sc
cured from some local scotsman. or
from an old asparagus bed and set in
rows or hills with the crown of tie
plant about inchc5 from the sur
face OF the soil Have the rows
foot apart anu the riants six inches
apart in the rows The lips Of the
new plants should just about reach
the surface and the ground should be
covered with several inches OF stable
manure
Keep the patch free from weeds
during the first season. The secoI,d
spring you can begin to cut the ten.
der green aud white stalks as soon
as they begin TO push through the
ground. Use a regular asparagus
knife as it brings the stalks to tho
surface and prevents injury to the
roots. Cut every tip that shows, as
they get tough as soon Az the light
strikes them, and II you let any Of
them 90 to seed that plant will cease
sending out new shoots for that sea.
son. Cut the shoots early in the
morning before the sun willis them
After the season is over and the
hot weather has come the bed should
be permitted TO go to seed. aud il
should be kept free from weeds at all
times. After the plants have ripened
they should be cut down and burned
the ashes being thrown back Oh the
bed for fertility,
| do not know Of any garden crop
thai will return a bigger profit for
the money and time invested than
viii asparagus, and IL certainly will
be worth your while to plant bed OF
II this year.