Sorting And Bunching

In some local markets asparagus is sold loose, by weight, in which case

but little regard is paid to the size and length and color of the

stalks, nor to the style of packing. This is the most profitable way for

the grower to sell, as it saves him all the expense and labor of

bunching, and as even the smallest stalks are thus salable, there is no

waste whatever, while the prices obtained are about the same as those

for first-class bunches--that is, two pounds of loose asparagus sell for

about the same price as a full-sized bunch. But in city markets

asparagus could hardly be sold in such a condition, and it is of first

importance that it should be carefully graded and neatly bunched.










Sorting.--Careful growers assort into three sizes: extras, primes, and

seconds. The size and weight of the bunches vary somewhat in different

markets. Bunches varying from six to twelve inches in length are

received at wholesale centers, but the most convenient and popular size

for a bunch of prime white asparagus is eight and one-half inches long,

averaging thirty spears, and weighing two pounds. The side view of one

and the end view of three bunches of this size of white asparagus are

shown in Fig. 27. To assure uniformity some ingenious contrivances have

been invented, most of which are a great improvement over the old-time

bunchers, consisting merely of a board with four pins, six inches long,

and placed about four inches apart each way, to form a square. Two

strings, usually of bast matting, were laid down on the board, which was

set on a bench up against the wall, or had a back made of another board

tacked on it at right angles. The asparagus was laid on the buncher

between the pins, the tops touching the back or wall to keep them even.

When the bunch was large enough the strings were tied firmly, and the

butt end of the bunch cut square.






Bunchers.--The modern bunchers are constructed of cast iron and are

easily handled. One of the first to come into use was Conover's (Fig.

28). The principle of the operation is that the stalks are placed

between two brass strips, a hinged cover is brought down by means of a

lever and held in place until the strings are tied. Two ties should be

used, one placed about two inches from either end. The bunch must be

tied so tightly that it will not loosen in handling and transportation

to market. The Watt's Buncher (Fig. 29), used extensively in New Jersey,

is so arranged that the arms may be adjusted to any size bunch desired

by simply loosening the bolts at either end, and pulling out the arms so

as to fit the shape of the bunch, and thus both ends can be bunched

properly. The style of buncher and knives in favor with growers in the

famous asparagus region near Concord, Mass., are seen in Fig. 30, and

the process of bunching in Fig. 31.






Tying materials.--Twine, Cuban bast, sisal, and various other

materials are used for tying, but nothing is better for this purpose

than raffia fiber. This is obtained from the raffia or rofia palm, a

native of the island of Madagascar. The tree sends enormous branches

from near the ground, the pinnate leaves of which produce this fiber.

One palm frond will produce eighty to one hundred long, green leaflets

from two to five feet in length, and from this the fiber is prepared.

"Silk lamba" is also a product of this palm. Raffia fiber is now

extensively used for tying up plants, for grafting, and many other

purposes, as it is very strong, as soft as silk, and is not affected by

moisture or changes of temperature, and it does not break or ravel when

folded or knotted.









Rubber bands.--The use of rubber bands for fastening asparagus bunches

has recently been found to have some advantages not possessed by other

materials. Prof. W. J. Green, of the Ohio Experiment Station, writes in

Bulletin No. 9: "The work can be done more rapidly and better. The

saving in time is fully one-third, which will pay for the increased cost

of rubber over string, reckoning wages at seventy-five cents per day.

This difference might be less where expert tyers are employed, or very

low rates per hundred bunches are paid. In any case, the work can be

done in a manner that is much more satisfactory to dealers with rubber

than with string. This is owing to the fact that rubber holds the

bunches intact, while string allows them to fall apart and to become

unsightly. Doubtless, in some cases, dealers would be willing to pay

more for bunches fastened with rubber than for those put up in the

ordinary manner. Even though no difference is made in price for

asparagus put up by the two methods, the bunches fastened with rubber

bands sell more readily than those tied with string.



"Rubber bands can be bought for two dollars per pound, and the size best

adapted to the purpose run about two thousand bands per pound, or

sufficient for one thousand bunches. This makes rubber bands cost about

two cents per dozen bunches more than string, if the saving in labor is

not taken into consideration.



"The saving in the item of labor depends, of course, upon the kind of

labor employed. In determining the relative value of the two methods not

only must cost of labor be taken into consideration, but the character

of the market as well. When competition is not strong careful bunching

is not a matter of great importance, but in many markets it is essential

that the bunches be put up in such a manner that they will not fall

apart. In such cases rubber bands will more than pay for their extra

cost, by insuring more ready sales, if not by increasing the price.



"The method employed in bunching with rubber bands is to slip a band

over an ordinary teacup--one with straight sides and without a handle;

fill the cup with asparagus shoots, the heads downward, and then slip

the band from the cup to the bunch. This makes a bunch of about the

right size, and gives the upper end a nicely rounded appearance. All

that remains to be done is to slip on another band and to square the

butts with a sharp knife. Possibly a metallic cup would answer better,

being thinner, but a teacup is not objectionable in this particular. If

smaller bunches are desired than the smallest cup that can be found, it

is not necessary to fill the cup."