508 



ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 



the months of March or Aprils and should be performed in 

 the following manner : — In each trench^ through its entire 

 length, small holes, eight inches in diameter and about four 

 inches deep, must be formed about thirty-six inches distant 

 from each other. In the centre of each of them a small 

 hillock of earth about two inches high is to be raised, upon 

 which the Asparagus plant is to be laid down, care being 

 taken to divide the roots equally in every direction ; the 

 roots are then to be covered over with half an inch of earth ; 

 and one or two handfuls of very good manure are to be 

 added, and covered over with about an inch and a half of 

 earth, at the same time forming a small hollow of about an 

 inch deep over each plant, to indicate its position. In order 

 exactly to know the position of the plants, and to shelter 

 them and their shoots from accidents, a small stake is to be 

 set to each, inclining it at an angle of 45°, in order not to 

 Fig. 296. injure the roots, and placing it 



a little away from the plant. 



" Every morning, towards 

 the months of April and 



Common mode of forming an ^^V, slugS and snails are 



Asparagus plantation. ^ to be carefully looked for 

 and destroyed. Beetles are also much to be feared in 

 the Asparagus plantations. Twice every day duiung 

 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 develop at the end of three 

 weeks into 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 plants. It will be useful also to set mole traps, for 

 while tracing their underground roads the moles cut the 

 roots. Frequently 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. 



