The Canadian Horticulturist. 71 



before the leaves appear, and two others at intervals of two or three weeks during 

 the early part of the season. Full directions will appear in this journal at the 

 proper season. 



From reports of the experience of those who have tried this remedy, which 

 have appeared in these pages and in our reports, it would appear that some few 

 have failed, but so many of us have had such evident success in lessening, if not 

 entirely destroying, these fungi, that we have no hesitation to highly commend- 

 ing it to our correspondent. 



Excrescences on Grape Vines. 



6OO. Sir, — I send you a section of a diseased grape vine, on which is a seedling 

 somewhat resembling the plum knot. Three years ago this appeared on one of my grape 

 vines. T. Neeland, Port Hope. 



This disease is not serious. It has long been known in France as Brous- 

 sins, meaning excrescences. They are the result of the action of the frost, and 

 appear on the roots, first as little nodules, which are soft and spongy, but which 

 become firm and hard and dry. On the branches they appear as masses of 

 irregular excrescences, composed of a large number of shapeless nodules, and 

 the wood thus covered is often enlarged four or five times its natural diameter. 

 The bark is torn, and often stretched over irregular groups of these nodules. A 

 full description of this appeared in Vol. 13, page 247. 



Making^ an Asparagus Plantation. 



6OI. Sir, — Is there any profit in growing asparagus, either in the garden or in the 

 field ? How should it he planted, and after planting can it be cultivated with the plough ? 

 Wliat treatment should it receive afterwards, and when is the best season to make the 

 plantation ? H. Beaudry, Montreal, Qive. 



Of all the crops for the market garden, especially if conveniently situated 

 to a large city, asparagus is one of the most satisfactory, because it is easy to 

 cultivate, easy to gather and easy to sell. The land should be heavily manured 

 and worked up to a depth of at least ten inches. Trenches are then opened up 

 to a depth of nine inches with a plough. The plants should be set about three 

 feet apart in these trenches, and enough earth packed about the roots to cover them 

 welly and the harrow will complete the job, throwing in a little additional earth 

 upon them, as it is drawn lengthwise over the rows. This work may be done 

 in the fall or spring. At the end of the season the trenches will be partially 

 covered in and during the next year may be all cultivated level, leaving the 

 roots eight or nine inches below the surface of the ground. Every spring the 

 whole surface should receive thorough cultivation with the plough and harrow, 

 and be well manured. Mr. Oarfield, of Michigan, who has had eminent success 

 in growing asparagus, states that he applies stable manure and refuse salt 

 alternate years, the former at the rate of thirty-two tons per acre. 



