Asparagus Culture in France. 231 



" Every year towards the months of April and May slugs and 

 snails are to be carefully looked for, while the morning dew remains, 

 and destroyed. Beetles are also much to be feared in the asparagus 

 plantations. Twice every day during a fortnight it will be well to 

 pursue these insects with rods, so as to hinder them from depositing 

 their eggs on the stalks of the asparagus ; these eggs appear at the 

 end of three weeks in the shape of black maggots or worms, which 

 prey upon the asparagus stems and dry them up. Yet these insects 

 are not the only ones which are to be dreaded. The white worms 

 (or maggots of tree beetles) are very dangerous, and it will be well 

 constantly to put in use the most proper means to get rid of them, 

 for they eat the roots and destroy the asparagus plants. It will be 

 useful also to set mole traps, for while tracing their underground roads 

 the moles cut the asparagus roots in order to get through. Fre- 

 quently during the season the plantations should be thoroughly 

 cleaned, taking care to never bruise or in any way injure the young 

 plants, for any accident to these is of course directly prejudicial to 

 the plant. 



" Common vegetables, such as late potatoes, cabbages, &c., 

 ought not to be planted on the ridges of beds, which, however, 

 may be made useful (but only during the first years) by growing 

 on them early potatoes, lentils, kidney beans, salads, and such 

 other vegetables as are of little inconvenience from their di- 

 mensions. 



" In the month of October, during fine and dry weather, the 

 small stalks of the asparagus are to be cut off at six inches above 

 the ground. The ground is to be lightly cleaned, and the shelving 

 beds must be dug up to a depth of twelve inches, maintaining their 

 conical shape. 



" The asparagus is to be lightly covered with manure, the plants 

 being laid bare with a flat hoe, for a diameter of eight inches, and 

 up to the crowns. Proper care ought to be taken not to injure the 

 roots with the implement. On each plant lay one or two handfuls 

 of good manure, free from all noxious substances. While spread- 

 ing the manure, mark out with a small stick the site of the plants 



