272 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



the loss from insects and fungous diseases. Cultivation sliould be- 

 statred immediately, and a dust mulch should be maintained. 



Cultivation should be started on potatoes, just as they are break- 

 ing through the ground. A spike or spring tooth harrow is the best 

 to break the crust and destroy any weeds that have started. Cultiva- 

 tion should be frequent, and maintain a good mulch the entire season^ 

 which will materially conserve the soil moisture. 



As a rule the potato beetle appears shortly after the potatoe's 

 come throught the ground. Spraying with Paris green or arsenate 

 of lead should be restorted to at this time. About four or live 

 pounds of arsenate of lead to fifty gallons of water has been found 

 to give the best results in controlling the potato beetle. In order to 

 control the leaf blight and other fungous diseases it is well to spray 

 with Bordeaux mixture a combined spray of 4-4-50 Bordeaux 

 and four to five pounds of arsenate of lead gives good results both 

 for controlling insects and plant diseases, and has been found to 

 materially increase the yield. 



Cucumbers plants can be planted at this time. There are 

 two methods of planting in the field, one by the hill and one by the 

 row or drill method. The latter seems to be more popular in many 

 sections, and consists of planting in rows, each plant standing about 

 a foot apart and the rows six to eight feet apart. The hill method 

 consists of having three to five plants in a hill, which are about six 

 ieet apart each way. 



A few early tomato plants can now be transferred to the field. 

 While the danger of frost is not yet past the advantage of getting 

 a few early plants in the field offsets the disadvantage of waiting 

 until later. In case frosty nights appear the plants may be protected 

 by plant protectors which are on the market, or the tomatoes may 

 be covered with straw or soil. The tomato can stand an inch or so of 

 soil for a couple of days wathout any danger and can be protected 

 from frost in this way. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture should be 

 given before the plants are placed in the field, and subsequent spray- 

 ing until the plants touch in the row. This spray is most effective 

 in controlling the leaf blight. Usually three or four sprays are suf- 

 ficient to materially hold the fungous in check. 



Cutworms on cabbage or tomato plants can be held in check 

 by placing a small band of paper around the plants. Another good 

 :eniedy is to mix six pounds of bran, one pint of molasses, and one- 

 half pound of white arsenic with enough water to make a .paste. 

 A teaspoonful of this mixture should be placed close to each plant. 



