Chapter I: Preface: vi

I. Historical Sketch 1
II. Botany 4
III. Cultural Varieties 17
IV. Seed Growing 26
V. The Raising of Plants 30
VI. Selection of Plants 38
VII. The Soil and Its Preparation 43
VIII. Planting 49
IX. Cultivation 61
X. Fertilizers and Fertilizing 72
XI. Harvesting and Marketing 83
XII. Forcing 100
XIII. Preserving Asparagus 112
XIV. Injurious Insects 126
XV. Fungus Diseases 137
XVI. Asparagus Culture in Different Localities 145
INDEX 167

ILLUSTRATIONS

Beginning of the Asparagus Industry in California
_Frontispiece_

PAGE

Asparagus Plumosus Nanus 5 Asparagus Sprengeri 7 Asparagus Laricinus 9 Asparagus Racemosus, var. Tetragonus 11 Asparagus Sarmentosus 12 Crown, Roots, Buds, Spear 14 Stem, Leaves, Flowers, Berries 14 Flowers 15 Palmetto Asparagus 21 Pot-Grown Plant 37 Horizontal Development of Roots 51 Trenches Ready for Planting 57 Hudson's Trencher 58 Root in Proper Position for Covering 59 Cross-section of Trenches After Planting 60 Asparagus Field Ridged in Early Spring 67 Leveling the Ridges After Cutting Season 69 Fertilized Asparagus Plot 75 Unfertilized Asparagus Plot 77 Basket of Asparagus 85 Cutting and Picking Up Asparagus 86 Horse Carrier for Ten Boxes 87 Asparagus Knives 89 End and Side View of White Asparagus Bunches 90 Conover's Asparagus Buncher 91 Watt's Asparagus Buncher 92 Rack and Knives Used in New England 93 At the Bunching Table 94 Box of Giant Asparagus 97 Southern Asparagus Crate 98 Tunnel for Forcing Steam Through the Soil 107 A Long Island Asparagus Cannery 113 Sterilizing Tank 115 Sterilizing Room 117 Interior View of a California Asparagus Cannery 119 Perspective View of a California Asparagus Cannery 121 Cannery in Asparagus Fields 123 Common Asparagus Beetle 127 Asparagus Attacked by Beetles 129 Spotted Ladybird 131 Twelve-spotted Asparagus Beetle 134 Asparagus Stems Affected with Rust 138 Portion of Rusted Asparagus Stems 139 Asparagus Field on Bouldin Island 161