INSECTS AND DISEASES 37 



manufacturing cloth will send cloth all over the world. 

 In like manner the horticulturist should send his produce 

 to places where it is wanted and appreciated. 



Such points should be better understood and acted 

 upon. The question of markets should be less of an 

 enigma. Another important point is, wherever the 

 climate favours such things as asparagus, there should 

 be grown the earliest available supply. Did every 

 county in England avail itself of its capability according 

 to respective resources, much of the foreign produce 

 now imported would not be needed. 



INSECTS AND DISEASES 



Few plants escape disease as does properly grown 

 asparagus, and probably what disease it is sometimes 

 subject to is traceable to unnatural treatment. Deep 

 and heavy earthings-up I consider to be a frequent 

 reason that plants become unhealthy with a kind of rust. 

 I am told that some years ago asparagus was extensively 

 cultivated in the Penzance district until a disease of this 

 sort visited the plants. Few growers now continue its 

 cultivation, but I am growing it successfully there, 

 though I do not intend earthing up eight to ten inches 

 or more, as I am told was the custom. 



The greatest pest to the crop of which I know is the 

 asparagus beetle (Crioceris Asparagi). When this pest visits 

 the plants it does a good deal of injury, eating the rind or 

 outer portion of the stems, and quite stripping the plants. 

 It is not an easy foe to deal with, but I have used the 

 following means, and when I have followed it up several 

 times, have succeeded. Paraffin and soap makes one of 

 the best as also the easiest of insecticides, and larger or 

 smaller quantities of either ingredient might be safely 

 used if properly made, which means properly churned. 

 A good mixture for this plant can be made with five 



