CULTURE IN DIFFERENT LOCALITIES 1 49 



to the packing-shed. The asparagus is placed on a 

 table and packed in racks of uniform size, passed to 

 the person who ties, and then to be butted off. The 

 bunches are then washed and set up in troughs ready 

 for market. Water is added in season to swell the 

 bunch tight and it is then packed in bushel boxes for 

 market, going in by teams each night. 



Asparagus was free from pests until 1SS9, when 

 the asparagus beetle made its unwelcome appearance. 

 Methods of fighting the beetle were unknown to grow- 

 ers generally at that time, but necessity soon taught 

 us. Chickens and hens are used with good results, also 

 Paris green dry was applied with an air-gun when the 

 dew was on the foliage. Cutworms sometimes do the 

 asparagus crop severe damage, but chickens and hens 

 are a sure remedj- — in fadt, hens are a decided benefit 

 in an asparagus field, keeping down many weeds. 



After learning to control the asparagus beetle we 

 were visited by the rust, which has proved a stubborn 

 foe and absorbs the sap which ought to go to the 

 growing plant. Appearing in July, 1897, the rust 

 seriously damaged many beds in eastern Massachu- 

 setts. Many remedies have been suggested, but so far 

 none of them have proved perfecT;ly satisfaclor3\ 

 Growers have been advised to cut the infecfted tops as 

 soon as the rust appears, but such a practice is all 

 wrong, however good in theory. Do not cut the tops 

 until the sap has left the stalks. This is the advice of 

 a large number of asparagus growers and scientific 

 men who are engaged in experimental work. 



Charles W. Prescott. 



Middlesex County, Mass. 



