VEGETABLE CHOI'S. 



719 



Other Insect Pests. 



Thousands of aphides are often found upon the leaves of vines, frequent- 

 ing; the undersides. The most practical way when the young vines are 

 attacked (and it is only then that curative treatment is payable) is to 

 gather in the lateral growths, and cover the whole plant with an inverted 

 tub, under which carbon bisulphide is allowed to vaporize. 



Pumpkins and squashes are often attacked by crickets, and nothing is 

 better for this form of attack than poison-baits made of 1 oz. Paris green 

 to 1 lb. bran, and enough treacle to make a paste, deposited in pellets 

 among the vines. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Asparagus is a branching herbaceous plant, attaining a height of 5 to 6 

 feet. It is a perennial, possessing a large root-stock and fleshy roots, in 

 which it stores nutriment to tide it over the winter. It is upon the vigour 

 of this root-stock and root system that its value depends, thus enabling it to 

 send up, upon the return of warm weather, quantities of young sprouts, 

 which are used extensively as a vegetable. Its period of most active growth 

 is during the summer, it being dormant throughout the winter. 



Of the edible species, there are several of what are considered distinct 

 varieties. These are probably the result of differences of soil, climate, and 

 culture. Of the varieties grown at Bathurst Experiment Farm, Connover's 

 Colossal and Pride of Brunswick have proved the best. Erfurt Giant, 

 Giant Dutch, White Mammoth, and Camden Park have also been tried. 

 Among market erardeners the two most popular varieties ai*e Connover's 

 Colossal and Palmetto. 



The Soil and its Preparation. 



Asparagus can be grown on a variety of soils, in fact any that can be 

 made into a good garden loam. It thrives best upon sandy loams, moder- 

 ately deep, and rich in vegetable matter. River-flat lands that are moist 



The Root-system of a plant of Asparagus — eight years Irom seed. 



