VEGETABLE GAKDEN PESTS 53 



Birds, although doing a little harm occasionally, are 

 really useful in a garden in eating insects of various 

 kinds. 



They can generally be kept off beet, peas, &c., by 

 putting a few lines of black cotton along the rows. 



DISEASES 



A disease known by the name of Club-root, producing 

 large swellings of unnatural growth and preventing true 

 root formation, attacks not only the cabbage but other 

 plants, cultivated and wild, which belong to the cabbage- 

 plant order. Some soils are entirely free from the 

 disease, whilst others are thoroughly permeated with it. 



Where the latter is the case it is difficult to successfully 

 grow a good crop of any ' brassica ' plant. 



Weeds should be kept down and diseased plants 

 should be burnt. 



Endeavour to starve out the disease by not growing 

 a cabbage-plant on the soil for some years. 



A dressing of burnt lime, 28-56 lb. to 1 pole of ground, 

 mixed with the soil in the autumn or early winter, does 

 good. 



The Onion Mildew is known to almost every grower. 

 The disease is first recognized by the yellow patches on 

 the leaves, followed by a white, dust-like bloom, which, 

 if not checked, results in the wilting and dying of the 

 leaves. 



Soils and seasons have their influence on the presence 

 or absence of the disease. 



Autumn-sown plants are less liable to be attacked by 

 it, and if attacked suffer in a less degree than spring- 

 sown. 



