208 THE HOME ACRE. 



June, for this reason : it is well known that the 

 most pestiferous perennial weed can be killed ut- 

 terly if never allowed to make foliage. As foliage 

 depends upon the root, so the root depends on 

 foliage. The roots of asparagus may therefore be 

 greatly enfeebled by too severe and long-contin- 

 ued cutting. Avarice always overreaches itself. 



In some localities the asparagus beetle destroys 

 whole plantations. Thompson, the English au- 

 thority, says : " The larvae, beetles, and eggs are 

 found from June to the end of September. Pick- 

 ing off the larvae and beetles, or shaking them into 

 receptacles, appears to be the only remedy." 



Peter Henderson, in his valuable book, " Garden- 

 ing for Profit," figures this insect and its larvae ac- 

 curately, and says : " Whenever the eggs or larvae 

 appear, cut and burn the plants as long as any 

 traces of the insect are seen. This must be done 

 if it destroys every vestige of vegetation." He 

 and other authorities speak of the advantage of 

 cooping a hen and chickens in the bed. Most em- 

 phatically would I recommend this latter course, 

 for I have tried it with various vegetables. Active 

 broods of little chickens here and there in the 

 garden are the best of insecticides, and pay for 

 themselves twice over in this service alone. 



We will next speak of the onion, because it is 

 so hardy that the earlier it is planted in spring the 



