I20 



the leaves and stems, which turn blackish in a short 

 time. The entire top begins to wither, and if the 

 infection is at all extensive soon dies back to the 

 ground. While the disease does not injure the cut 

 of the season its development on the plants after 

 the cutting period is over causes premature ripen- 

 ing and greatly lessens the season of growth. The 

 result is that the roots, drained of their stored food 

 by the heavy production of shoots in the earlier part 

 of the season, fail to become refilled with the neces- 

 sary reserve to continue the proper growth the fol- 

 lowing year. Smaller stalks in fewer numbers are 

 produced and in a few years the plantation may be 

 killed outright. 



All tops should be carefully cut and burned in 

 the field after the season's growth is over. All rak- 

 ing and forking of the tops should be done immedi- 

 ately after cutting, and drying permitted to take 

 place in the piles in order to prevent the shattering 

 of leaves and the spread of the disease. Frequent 

 spraying with bordeaux mixture after cutting is 

 over will be found helpful in prolonging the grow- 

 ing season and protecting the plants to a consider- 

 able extent from the trouble. In the regions of 

 little rainfall dusting with flowers of sulphur has 

 been found more effective than bordeaux mixture. 

 Dusting, however, is not practical in the rainy 

 districts. 



A number of varieties are to be found upon the 

 market, but the one generally preferred at the 

 present time is Palmetto. This variety is of south- 

 ern origin and does especially well in the southern 

 asparagus districts. It has proven very satisfactory 

 for northern growers, however, and seems to be 

 more resistant to rust than any of the other sorts. 



