Cut from the bed very
sparingly, however, the third year, and let vigorous foliage form
corresponding root-power. In the autumn of the third and the
spring of the fourth year the treatment is precisely the same. In
the fourth season, however, the shoots may be used freely to, say,
about June 20, after which the plants should be permitted to grow
unchecked till fall, in order to maintain and increase the root-
power. Every year thereafter there should be an abundant top-
dressing of manure in the fall, and a careful digging of the
ground in the early spring. Light, sandy soil, clear of stones, is
well adapted to asparagus, but should be treated on the principles
already indicated in this work. There should be no attempt, by
trenching, to render a porous subsoil more leaky. It is useless to
give the bed a thorough initial enriching. Put on a generous top-
dressing every autumn and leave the rains to do their work, and
good crops will result.
If, on the contrary, a cold, heavy clay must be dealt with, every
effort should be made to ameliorate it. Work in a large quantity
of sand at first, if possible; employ manures from the horse-
stable, or other light and exciting fertilizers, and there will be
no failure.
In regard to the use of salt, Mr. Harris writes: "It is a popular
notion that common salt is exceedingly beneficial to asparagus.
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