This action made an almost
perpendicular wedge-shaped aperture just back of the spade. The
asparagus plant, with its roots spread out fan-shape, was sunk in
this opening to a depth that left the crown of the plant between
three and four inches below the surface. Then the spade was drawn
out, and the soil left to fall over the crown of the plant.
Rapidly repeating this simple process, the whole plot was soon set
out. The entire bed was then raked smooth. The rows were three
feet apart, and plants one foot apart in the row. A similar plot
could scarcely have been planted with potatoes more quickly or at
less expense, and a good crop of potatoes could not have been
raised on that poor land with less preparation. A few years later
I made another and smaller bed in the same way. The results have
been entirely satisfactory. I secured my object, and had plenty of
asparagus at slight cost, and have also sold and given away large
quantities. A bit of experience is often worth much more than
theory.
At the same time it is proper that some suggestions should follow
this brief record. The asparagus bed should be in well-drained
soil; for while the plant will grow on wet land, it will start
late, and our aim is to have it early.
Again, with asparagus as with nearly everything else, the deeper
and richer the soil, the larger and more luxuriant the crop.
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