132 ASPARAGUS 



they maj- be killed with inse(5licides, or the plants, 

 after they become covered with eggs, maybe cut down 

 and burned, and other shoots be allowed to grow up 

 as deco3-s. One of the best and least expensive reme- 

 dies against the larv^ge is fresh air-slacked lime dusted 

 on the plants in the early morning while the dew is on. 

 It quickly destroys all the grubs with which it comes 

 in contact. The lime may be conveniently applied b}' 

 means of a whisk-broom or a Paris green sifter. Even 

 dry road dust applied in this manner will have a bene- 

 ficial effect. The special merit of these insecticides is 

 that the}' can be used without the least danger upon 

 young shoots being cut for market or home use. 



Paris green and other arsenites, applied dry in pow- 

 der, mixed with flour or plaster, or in solution, answer 

 equally well, after cutting has ceased, and possess the 

 advantage of destroying beetles as well as lar\'ae. One 

 pound of Paris green to a barrel of fine plaster makes 

 a sufficiently strong mixture. It may be necessarj- to 

 make two of these applications at inter\-als or as often 

 as the larvae reappear on the plants. Powdered helle- 

 bore mixed with flour, one part to ten, or in solution 

 of one ounce of hellebore to three gallons of water, is 

 also very effective against the young lar^-ae. Pyreth- 

 rum or buhach may be used in similar manner, and 

 kerosene emulsion has been highly recommended by 

 some experimenters. In hot weather, when the soil 

 is dry, the larvae may be brushed or shaken from the 

 plants so that they will drop to the heated ground, 

 where they die, being unable to regain the shelter of 

 the plants. Whichever methods for the destruction of 

 this pest are adopted, unless the work be done thor- 



