VOLLX
INDIANAPOLIS,  DEO. 9, 1905.
NO 49
Written tor the Indiana  Farmer:
Asparagus Culture.
H. S. C.
Tlie most palatable dishes served nt
the farmer's table nre usually made up
from home gown products, and nmong
these, asparagus should have a place. We
regret that more farmers' gardens do not
the latter method is preferable. Of
course this plant thrives best iu good
soil and satisfactory results come from
right treatment of tlie ground before
transplanting the roots or sowing the
seed.
The old idea that a generous quantity
of barnyard manure Bhould lie placed in
the planting furrow has given way
through  experience  to  the    top  dressing
above the surface of the ground destroy
nil weeds or prevent them by putting n
layer of straw over the bed. Straw not
only keeps down other plant growths, but
iu decaying mulches the soil.
When the plants have reached the
spear cutting ago, usually the second sea-
'on after transplanting, precaution must
be taken not to prolong the harvest for
more  titan  six  weeks  from  the  date  of
ten inches high shonld be raised over the
growing spears. This will insure bleaching. All cuttings should bo made below the surface of the ground ns an exposed, multilated and decaying stump
may work serious injury to tho roots.
The enemies of asparagus nre rust and
two species of old world lieetles. These
have not been of any serious consequence
in the central states.
Mountains
and  Streams of Snohomish County, one of the    Richest    Mining    Districts    of    Washington,
yield this edible plant, and that there is
a lack of proper acquaintance with it
among our rural friends. It is a wholesome nnd appetizing fare and not only
nourishes the body but also acts as a
tonic to ones system, and it is said, benefits the action of the kidneys.
If you have not done so already, by all
means, start a patch of asparagus in your
garden this coming spring. If you do
not relish this vegetable now, we venture
to say that you will by the end of the
first season's experience with it. It is
cosmopolitan in its nature and soon
adapts itself to differences in sorts nnd
climates. It is easily grown and requires but little time to care for it after
it is once established, as it is a hardy nnd
perennial plant propagating from both
seeds and rootstock.
Asparagus has long been known to the
people of the old world. It was a favorite dish with the ancient Romans and
was introduced by them into what is now
France and Germany after Caesar's conquest. It spread from there to other
sections of Europe nnd subsequently
found its way to America through the
early European immigrants, who settled
here.
Asparagus grown from seed requires a
longer time' for maturity than when- it is
started from the roots or crowns, hence
and mulching method. The last named
way is better and more effective.
The nsparagus plant belongs to the
Lily of the Valley family and is the principal edible one of tlie entire species. All
modern forms of this vegetable have come
from the asparagus officinalis, a branching herbaceous plant attaining a height
varying from three to seven fleet and
springing from a perennial rootstock
This rootstock or crown appears each
year and extends horizontally beneath the
surface for a distance of several inches.
All the varieties of asparagus now
existing belong to the same species and
nbout the only difference noted is in the
name. The various sizes of the plant
depend to a great extent upon the soil
and care in cultivation and selection of
good seeds and  roots.
In starting a growth of asparagus select good healthy one year old roots and
plant them from three to four feet apart
in trenches from six to ten inches deep
and fill up the trenches even with the surrounding surface of the soil. If a field
is to be planted, the rows should be from
three to five feet apart to give room for
the spreading of roots and at the same
time permit cultivation of the soil.
The lest time for planting nsparagus is
just after the frost has left the ground in
the  spring.        When   the  spears  appear
first cutting. After that all spears
should be left to mature into stalk and
branch so as to furnish sufilcient nitrogenous nnd carbonaceous nourishment to the
roots, for these are tho storehouse of
enemy for the next seasons crop of edible
spears.
When the growing stalk has matured
and the berries have assumed a deep rich
color the tops may be removed by severing the stems close to tho ground. All
the nourishment coming from the roots
into the trunk and branches will now be
retained by the roots for further use.
At this time the ground should be given
a coat of fine well rotted manure and later
mulched with straw. The teachings of
tlie autumn rains and winter snows will
thus supply an amide quantity of fertiliser to insure a good harvest in the following spring.
When the plant is firmly established in
its new home and the attending crops are
being harvested, green asparagus can be
bad by allowing the spenrs to grow up
froir. the level surface of garden or field.
The action of the sunlight brings out the
chlorophyl or coloring matter. The length
of the spears will depend upon the depth
at which they are cut and time given to
their  growth. The  cuttings  should   be
about eight or ten inches long. If white
asparagus  is  wanted  ridges of soil nbout
Asparagus may be canned like many
other vegetables and retain its quality
for a long time. In this it is superior to
all  others.
It is hoped that we may induce many of
cur readers to set out a bed of nsparagus
in their gardens this coming spring, nnd
in a few years Inter see them enjoy this
palatable dish as a compensation for their
Ir.bor.
STORIES   OE LONDON   WEATHER.
The Manchester Guardian tells a good
story of the weather. The scene was a
Strand omnibus. A laden sky was overhead, the rain poured down uncompromisingly, mud was underfoot A red-capped
I'arsee, who had been sitting ne»r tlie
dripping driver, got down as the conductor came up. "What sort of chap is
'hat?" asked        the       driver.    Don't
yer      know     that?" answered the
conductor. "Why, that's one o'
tbem Indians that worship the sun!"
"Worships the sun?" said the shivering
driver. "I suppose 'c's come over 'ere
to 'nve a rest!"
This recalls the reply given on one occasion by an Eastern potentate to Queen
Victoria, who asked him whether his people did not worship the sun. "Yes, your
Majesty," said the Oriental, "and if you
saw him you would worship him also."—
London  Daily  Mail.