Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-01
HOW TO SET OUT
AN ASPARAGUS BED

AN ASPARAGUS BED
 Far asparagus a deen rich, loose loam is best, although asparagus will do Well in any good, well-drained soil The plants gratefully respond to liberal man uring and good cultivation. It is inn possible to give too much manure.
 The soil must be free from roots, stones or any tnate.Lal that might i1- terfere with the growth of the spears. There must be no trees on or near the bed as the troots of the trees make heavy drafts upon the soil, and also on account of the shade. Shade is detri- mental to the thrift of the plants, and, therefore the bed must not be located near trees hedges. hills or buildings.
 When asparagus is grown on large scale for market, weN-drained, light deep, sandy loam with a light clay sub soil is preferred. A heavy clay soil or land with a hardpan subsou or any soil that is wet and cold will not successfully grow the crop.
 The bed must be kept free from weeds.
 As already stated, spring is the best time to start the bed, when the soh can be worked to good advantage The best season is from April to the middle of June, but when the latter month is chosen preparation must be made for watering the plants in case of drouth. Transp!anting should never be done in the fall.
 When planting the work should be done as quickly as possible so as not to expose the roots to the drying in fuences of wind or suSl. Flow and naf- row the ground, or spade and rake over, so as to get it into a mellow condltln. Then lay ON the slope of the land, and never plant the roots closer than two feet in rows that are three feet apart.
 Phe method today is to open trenches | by blowing a furrow each way and, II seemed necessary, go over the ground l sufficient number of times to make the l furrows from eight to ten inches deep' ] After this the loose soil is thrown out with a shovel so as to leave the trenches | at a uniform depth of about a toot' l and o+ the same width at the bottom. | Fertilizing material is scattered in the ] trenches before planting. Deconnposed 1 manure spread over the bottom of the | furrow, to a depth of about three ln- ches, and this covered with two inches or soil is practiced by some growers. ! Then the roots are placed in the fur 1 row, the crown in the center ana the l rottlets spread out evenly and horizont- ally, like ahe spokes of wheel, md at ance three inches of fine, mellow sail Is covered over and pressed around the roote. If the ground is dry at planting time, 1t is pressed down quite firmly about the roots so as to prevent their drying out. and to hasten their grwth
 Throughout the first season the bed must be cultivated carefully, working the soM toward the plants. At the close of the first season the tops will have attained height of about three feet. In the fall as soon as the tops are dead they should be cut off and the whole bed cultivated, about three inches deep regardless of the ro~s. The following spring cultivation should be resumed as soon as the ground will permit
 The crop should not be cut until the spring of the third year, and cultivat. ed the second year should be the same as given the first.
 Cutting should not be. prolonged long CT than about the middle of June, ant at this time the entire bed should bt thoroughly cultivated three inches deer and good coating of well-rotted barn fsf1 Id manure added.