58 MARKET GARDENII^TG. 



tain insects, and poisons, generally arsenical compounds, 

 applied with the direct intent of killing the insect eating 

 the foliage. 



In nothing is the saying that ''An ^mce of preven- 

 tion is worth a pound of cure," more exemplified than 

 in the advantage derived from destro3'ing flying insects 

 before they deposit their eggs. Every one living in the 

 country is familiar with the habit of night moths and 

 bugs to fly into lamps or other lights, and that the incli- 

 nation has been used as a means of inviting them to 

 destruction by night fires on the borders of the garden, 

 or by placing in the midst of the garden a large tub of 

 water, over the center of which is placed a square lantern 

 against which the insects fly violently and are precipi- 

 tated into the water. 



Asparagus Beetle. — The asparagus beetle, often 

 called the asparagus fly, is an oblong, hard-bodied, quick 

 motioned insect, about one-third of an inch in length, 

 its head black, its thorax tawny red, and wing-covers 

 blue-black, ornamented with six small yellow spots, 

 appearing in large numbers during the season of aspara- 

 gus cutting ; the soft larvae, or slugs, are most ravenous 

 destroyers of the cuticle or outer bark of stems, twigs 

 and leaves of the asparagus plant, attacking it from the 

 first peeping sprout in early spring till the plant has 

 reached its full development. These insects, maturing 

 early, develop a new brood in August. Nothing can be 

 done to destroy the asparagus beetle upon the market- 

 able shoots, as mineral poisons would be destructive to 

 human life, and offensive applications would destroy 

 the value of the crop. 



On beds not old enough for cutting, and on beds 

 past prime condition, mineral poisons may be used, and 

 none have been found better than Paris green, mixed 

 with forty parts of flour. Sometimes the beetles appear 

 in such numbers and are so voracious that asparagus 



