180 



GARDENING FOB PLEASURE. 



moved from the roots ; the shoots are shown in different 

 stages of development, and it will be seen how readily 

 careless cutting may injure the buds which are ready to 

 produce a succession of shoots. 



The surface of the Aspargus bed should have a top- 

 dressing of three or four inches of rough stable manure 

 every fall, (November), 

 which should be lightly 

 forked into the bed in 

 spring. The best variety 

 is what is known as 

 "Van Sicklen's Colos- 

 sal." In some localities 

 Asparagus is attacked 

 by an insect called the 

 Asparagus Beetle. The 

 best method of getting 

 rid of this pest, that we 

 have found, is to coop 

 up a hen and let the 

 chickens pick up the 

 insects and their eggs. 



ARTICHOKE-GLOBE 



(Oynara Scolymus.) 



Fig. 69. GLOBE ARTICHOKE. 



The portion used of 

 this plant is the unde- 

 veloped flower cluster, 

 or the portion which is known as the scales of the 

 involucre. They are boiled and served with drawn 

 butter, but outside of France do not seem to be very 

 generally appreciated. The plants are propagated first 

 by seeds, sown in a hot-bed in March, and planted out 

 at distances of from two to three feet. It is not 

 always hardy enough for our winters in the northern 

 states, though it proves so in all latitudes south of Wash- 



