Planting

Throughout the Middle and Northern States, spring, as soon as the soil

can be worked to good advantage, is decidedly the most favorable time

for planting asparagus. If it is not practicable to plant thus early,

the work may sometimes be delayed up to the middle of June. In planting

thus late, however, preparation has to be made for watering the plants

in case of drouth, else failure be inevitable. It is also necessary to

do the work as expeditiously as possible, so as not to expose the roots

to the drying influences of the sun and wind. Fall planting is advisable

only in climates where there is no danger of winter-killing of the

roots.



After the ground has been plowed and harrowed, or spaded and raked over,

and brought into as mellow a condition as possible, the rows for

planting are to be laid out. It is usually recommended to have the rows

run north and south, so as to readily admit the sunlight. When this is

not practicable, however, it need not deter any one from making an

asparagus bed, as it is more important to have the rows run with the

slope of the land than in any particular direction of the compass, in

order to provide ready surface drainage.