ONIONS 167 



There are two types of this, an early and a late. Other 

 varieties are Moore's and Columbian Mammoth. 



Insects. The asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) and 

 the twelve spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecim- 

 punctata) are the two principal insects. The beetles appear 

 in early spring, and should be kept in check by keeping all 

 shoots cut off, and after the cutting season ends spray with 

 arsenate of lead, using two or three pounds in fifty gallons 

 of water; or with Bordeaux, using resin soap to make the 

 mixture stick to the foliage. Spray every two weeks if 

 necessary. Apply air-slacked lime when young first appear, 

 and during a hot day jar the plants to make the young 

 drop to the ground, where they perish.* 



Diseases. Rust (Puceinia asparagi) is the only serious 

 disease of asparagus. It causes the foliage and stems to 

 turn brownish and to mature early. Spray with Bordeaux 

 and resin soap every two or three weeks after the middle of 

 July. Cut off and burn dead tops in the late fall. Good 

 cultivation and plenty of humus in the soil, to retain mois- 

 ture, will help to retard the serious injury of the disease.! 



ONIONS (Allium cepa) 



Description. Native of central or western Asia. A 

 biennial, sometimes perennial. The original home of the 

 onion is not known. It has no true stem, but this is repre- 

 sented by the base of the bulb. The form, color, and shape 

 of onions vary greatly in different varieties. The free por- 

 tion of the leaves is elongated and is swollen in the lower 

 part. The flowers, which are white or lilac in color, are 

 borne in dense, round heads on long, slender, hollow stalks; 

 sometimes, instead of flowers, a head of small bulbs is pro- 

 duced and no seed at all. This may occur occasionally in 



*Bulletin 150, Maryland Experiment Station. 

 fBulletin 151, Maryland Experiment Station, 



