Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
:1, BARON VON MALTZAHN, of Blücherhof, near Vollrathsruhe, Mecklenburg, in
the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The subject of the present invention is an improvement in the cultivation of
asparagus, and aims at supplying a product which will satisfy the highest agricul-
tural requirements, whilst it enables agriculturists and market gardeners to simplify
and accelerate the forcing process.
The labour required for tending and gathering is also diminished by this
process, and damage to the growing plants when gathering those that are ripe, is
obviated, so that this invention constitutes an important step forward in technical
agriculture. It is well known that in forcing asparagus, after the tops have been
taken off, it is the custom to cover the plants with manure in the winter and then
leave them to themselves.
The process of the present invention consists in placing over each old plant
when growth commences with the advent of spring a case made of material
impervious to light and heat and closed by a lid, which can be opened for the
purpose of observing the plant isolated in the case. By this means the young shoot
is isolated from the light and only receives the warmth and air arising from the
ground. The effect which is produced by this means is very astonishing. A plant
which required four to six weeks for its full development is by means of this
forcing case fully grown in eight to ten days. Instead of it being requisite as
formerly to attend to the plant three times daily, it is only necessary under this
system to attend to it once in three days, by which a saving in large establishments
of 8 to 9 workmen is attained. A further great advantage lies in the fact that
the whole of the plants can be seen under each case which renders any damage
impossible while the plants are being gathered; whereas, hitherto stems were either
broken off or pricked, because they were partly or wholly under ground.
The principal feature of this invention for the attainment of the purpose
consists of the cases, which are made in such a way, that they are very easily
manufactured, well adapted to their purpose, can be easily placed over the plant
and cannot be blown or knocked over whilst they possess the advantage of allowing
the plant to be inspected without being taken off.
This last advantage, which prevents the plant being damaged or disturbed
during growth, is not possessed by any other covers which have hitherto been
experimentally tried.
The case, which is preferably made of a cylindrical shape may be manufactured
of wood, clay, cardboard, or any other suitable material and may be furnished
with one, or even two grooves, like pipes, running lengthwise, for which eyes or
ears may be substituted although it is sufficient to fasten the staves to the case
by means of clamps. Through these pipes or eyes a stave is put which is intended
to give stability to the case, and to form at its upper end a pivot for the lid.
The case is placed vertically some centimetres deep in the ground and after the
staves are forced into the earth the case is firmly fixed. By turning the lid on the

page_text: pivot the plant is isolated and can be inspected at any time by merely opening
The lid.
Dated this 21st day of Angusta1894.
Improvements in the Cultivation of/Asparagus.
I, BARON VON MATTZAHN, of Blücherhof, near Vollrathsruhe, Mecklenburg, in
the Empire of Germany; do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the present invention is a new method of cultivating asparagus,
by which an agricultural products that leaves nothing to be desired is gained, at
the same time-enabling the agriculturist :to simplify.-and-accelerate the forcing
process.
=
The labour required for tending and gathering is also decreased by the appli-
cation of this process and no damage can be done to the growing plants while
cutting, and gathering those that are ripe, so that this invention represents-an
important progress in agriculture.
:
The accompanying drawings illustrate the cases employed for this method as
follows.-
Fig. 1. A perspective view of the case in question.
Fig. 2. The same of another form of execution.
Fig. 3. A vertical section through the caprin Fig. 2.
Fig. 4. The exterior, and
"
Fig. 5. The interior side of the case in Fig. 2 in an unfolded condition.
At present the forcing of asparagus is done by heaping up humus in winter after
the leaves have been removed, the plant is then left to itself. According to the
present method a case of a material impervious to light and heat is placed over
each old plant in spring as soon as vegetation begins and closed by a lid which
may be opened for the inspection of the isolated plant. By this arrangement the
young growth is isolated from the light and the influence of the warmth and air
arising from the ground is secured. The effect reached in this manner is amazing.
A plant which formerly required four to six weeks for its full development is
raised in nine to ten days to the same state by this method. Instead of being
compelled to inspect the plant three-times a day as has been hitherto Decessary.it
is sufficient to look after the same every three days only so that a considerable
amount of labour may be dispensed with. The chief advantage is offered by the
fact that the whole of the plants may be viewed in the cases so that damaging
while cutting is prevented, while hitherto stems were either: broken off or pricked
on account of their being wholly or partly underground,
The cases employed for the above-mentioned-purpose may have any form desired.
They are suitably shaped so that they may be easily placed over the plant and are
secured from being upset by the wind or other accidents; besides the plants.may
be inspected without lifting the case.
The case represented in Fig. consists of a cylindrical cover.A made of wood,
clay, roofing-paste-board and any other material impervious to light and which for
instance is provided with two tubular grooves applied to the cover in a longitudinal
direction and serving for the reception of rod C: These grobves may be replaced
by ears or loops. Another mode of fastening the rod can also be applied ras
clamps may for instance be employed for this purpose. The rod C has the purpose
to 'impart the necessary stability to the case while at its upper end D it serves as
a pivot for the lid E.

page_text: This case is placed several centimetres deep into the earth and has a fixed
position after the rod or rods have been pushed into the ground. By covering
with the lid E the plant is isolated and may easily be looked at by lifting
the lid.
The Figs. 2 and 3 shew another case consisting principally of four parts, an
interior cover A¹, an exterior cover F', a lid D₁ to be opened, and a rod B
riveted to the side of the two covers. Both covers have an equal height while the
interior cover A' is prolonged in a downward direction and serves to introduce the
case into the ground.
Rod B' is arranged in the longitudinal direction of both covers; it has a some-
what greater length than the interior cover A'. This rod serves the same purpose
as the one in Fig. 1, namely, to give stability to the case and to act as a pivot for
the lid D at the top C¹. This lid D' is supplied with several small holes E¹
which are of great importance although they appear to be of no account.
These
holes are applied for the following purpose:-First, that in case of rain the drops
may run downward, and secondly and principally, that the growth of the asparagus
plants takes place only in an upward direction which purpose is perfectly reached
by the few sunbeams penetrating through the small perforations.
The double sides are also very essential as the enclosed air forms an excellent
isolator against the influence of the weather. In order to bring both covers A¹
and F in a fixed position when placed one upon the other and to be able to enclose
at the same time a certain quantity of air one or both of them are either sloped
out or ribbed.
If the latter is the case these grooves of the one cover must be directed either
vertically or oblique to those of the other cover so that they lie either in the
direction of the longitudinal axis or of the periphery. In this manner every four
points next to each other come into contact with each other at the projecting ends
of the grooves thus forming the space for the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is.―
1. New method of cultivating asparagus, for which cases impervious to light
are employed and placed over the young growth thus securing the warmth and air
arising from the ground to the young plants.
2. Double sided case for cultivating asparagus both or only one interior side of
which are provided with grooves or ribs directed in the first case vertically or
obliquely to each other.
Dated this 21st day of May 1895