22 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



in contact. The most efficient plan of dealing with this insect- 

 plague is to collect and " stamp out" the young brood, or better 

 still, the full-grown beetles, before they hare laid their eggs. 

 The work of collection must, however, be carefully proceeded 

 with, for with the slightest movement the beetles will fall 

 down and conceal themselves in the earth. After a time they 

 reappear, and, if permitted, will crawl again on to the plant, 

 lay their eggs, and recommence feeding. In his war of exter- 

 mination with the beetles, the Asparagus -grower has no better 

 friends and allies than the birds. If he is wise, he does all in 

 his power to attract and protect them. 



Respecting the fungus, the first symptoms are observable in 

 August. Small dark brown spots, which in a few days attain 

 the length of nearly quarter of an inch, appear on the 

 stalks, and gradually assume a much darker shade. These 

 spots are surrounded by the ruptured epidermis of the stalk, 

 and are somewhat inflated. On close examination, vertical 

 layers of small powdery spots are remarked under the epidermis ; 

 and it is their great accumulation here and there which causes 

 the latter to burst. The injury done to the parts of the 

 vegetable that are above the ground has an unfavourable effect 

 on the roots, checking their development, and in the ensuing 

 spring the yield of Asparagus will be found materially 

 diminished by the premature death of many of the plants. 

 As to the precise nature and proper designation of the disease, 

 whether rust or another disease greatly resembling it, whether 

 originating in (or greatly mcreased by) over manuring with 

 nitrogenous fertilisers, and whether — as some maintain — 

 never met with under the shade of trees, are questions 

 on which uncertainty prevails. Should it be ascertained 

 on further investigation that the disease is not confined 

 to Asparagus-^-and Dr. Birnbaum has a noticed parasitic 

 fungus almost identical in appearance on Couch Grass 

 — the difficulty of combating the evil and preventing it 

 from spreading will be proportionally increased. If it turns 

 out to be rust, the spores alluded to are possibly the 

 winter spores, which first develop themselves in spring on 

 another plant, and are afterwards found on Asparagus in the 

 form of mycelium or spawn. On one point, viz., the dangerous 

 character of the disease, there is unfortunately no room for 

 doubt, and the grower has every reason to be careful that it 

 shall not gain ground, or be imported into districts hitherto 

 free from it. Above all things he must endeavour to prevent 

 the discharge of the spores — the organs of reproduction — 



