PLANT ENEMIES 



285 



is to pick off the insects, or the leaves which hold them, and 

 drop them into a can which holds a little water, on top of 

 which are a few teaspoonfuls of kerosene. But if the garden is 

 so large that the work of picking is too great, you must go 

 about the work differently. 



For chewing insects, spray the leaves with a poison which 

 will kill the insects. 



For sucking insects which are soft-bodied, such as the 

 aphis, spray them with a liquid which will kill them on touch- 

 ing them, a " contact insecticide." 



In order that you may under- 

 stand this better, I must explain 

 how to spray, and how to make 

 poisons or contact insecticides. 



To spray is to scatter very 

 thoroughly, but very thinly, over 

 a plant, a liquid which will prac- 

 tically reach every part of it. 

 In a small space you can do this 

 by means of a whisk broom, re- 

 peatedly wet and whisked over 

 the plants. This is the first 

 method ever used, but is slow 

 and wasteful. At the seed stores you can buy, to do the 

 work more quickly and economically, spraying machines of 

 all sizes. Atomizers are good for small plots. Best for larger 

 plots are knapsack sprayers (not the " compressed air sprayers ' ') 

 of good makes. Get the seedsman to pick out a good one for 

 you, have it if possible of brass or galvanized iron, and re- 

 member that in sprayers "the best is the cheapest." 



Spray every part of each plant, except the blossom. If 

 possible, spray in sunny weather. Always strain the mixture 

 before putting it into the sprayer. 



FIG. 158. A knapsack sprayer 

 is best for large gardens. 



