50 



movements, and feeds on Asparagus, eating holes 

 through the bark ; when disturbed it ejects a noisome 

 liqiiid from its mouth, and does much injury to the 

 plant. The pupse are formed under fallen leaves 

 and rubbish on the earth. The insect appears in 

 about thirty days from the period of laying the egg ; 

 it hibernates under the bark of trees, moss, lichens, 

 old rails, &c., &c. As stated, it came from Europe, 

 and made its first appearance on Long Island. 



The best remedy that is yet known is to dust the 

 plants with fresh air-slacked lime on beds one and 

 two years planted. On young beds the insects do 

 most damage. With bearing-beds, by allowing the 

 thin shoots to remain uncut, the larva collects on 

 them and does not injure the larger saleable spears. 

 By going through the bed once a day with a basin of 

 hot water, thousands can be shaken into the water 

 and are destroyed. This will, in many cases, check 

 their depredations. Fine bone-meal has been tried 

 by some growers with satisfactory results. This 

 dusting can only be done with young beds, or thin 

 spears on old beds ; for, if put on spears intended 

 for table-use, the Asparagus will taste of the lime or 

 bone. The thin shoots can be cut off occasionally, 

 and burned, destroying what are collected on them. 



Forcing. — -When Asparagus is wanted before tlie 

 out-door beds produce in April, it can easily be 

 brought forward in hot-beds or forcing-pits. For 

 this purpose old roots are required ; those from six 

 to ten years old are the best. 



The roots should be put into the bed in February, 

 and covered with about three or four inches of earth. 



