VEGETABLES ASPARAGUS. 127 



dered the operation so simple that any one can do it 

 rapidly with a few minutes practice. 



This crop is subject to so many conditions that an 

 average value can hardly be given ; some of our growers 

 here yet claim that it pays an annual clear profit of $500 

 per acre, while others say that it does not pay them over 

 $200 per acre. During a period of ten years, counting 

 from the time the bed was planted, it is safe to say that, 

 in this vicinity, the average profits per acre will be $250. 

 It is a crop that never fails to sell, is always productive 

 if properly treated, and having a great value for its weight 

 a ton often being worth from $200 to $400 it is, in 

 all respects, a valuable crop for the market gardener. In 

 packing Asparagus for shipping it is best packed in boxes 

 of a depth equal to the length of the bunch or perhaps 

 an inch deeper, because in packing, Asparagus is placed 

 on end, and some soft material, as moss, cotton, or soft 

 paper should be placed on the top, so that should the 

 box be turned upside down, the soft tops will not be 

 bruised. The interstices between the bunches should 

 also be filled in, so that the whole may be firm enough to 

 not be injured by jarring. This is true of packing all 

 vegetables for shipment; unless the box is packed full and 

 firm, jarring in the handling is sure to injure them. 



In some localities, especially on Long Island, New 

 York, the Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi) has in- 

 jured the crop to such an extent as to cause whole plan- 

 tations to be plowed under. When the beetle first ap- 

 pears it may be controlled by picking it off and destroying 

 it ; but if allowed to become established the task is hope- 

 less. The engraving (figure 15) shows the insect in its 

 different stages. The lower figure is a part of a branch, 

 with the small black eggs attached by their ends ; these 

 are given of the natural size, and magnified. The larva, 

 or caterpillar, as well as the perfect beetle, is shown at 

 the top of the engraving ; the natural size of these is in- 



