136 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



purchased ready prepared and diluted and ap- 

 plied according to directions which come with 

 them, are the most satisfactory and efTective 

 remedies for holding the scale in check. The 

 fact that the former is a fungicide as well as an 

 insecticide makes it doubly valuable. Neither 

 should be used excepting on absolutely dormant 

 vegetation, however, for they may injure soft- 

 growing parts irreparably. 



Either will prove perfectly satisfactory, how- 

 ever, if used carefully according to the instruc- 

 tions. And I prefer to use a fungicide as well as 

 an insecticide whenever possible, for fungi are 

 more subtle and less easy to conquer than any 

 insect. Of course bordeaux mixture may be 

 added to all insect sprays, but this is usually 

 done later in summer when vegetation is in full 

 leaf. For all fungous diseases it is the early and 

 constant preventive treatment that counts. 

 There is really nothing that can be done, once a 

 disease is established within a plant's tissues. 



Scale insects are likely to escape attention 

 unless one is on the lookout for them ; but w^orms 

 and plant lice are unpleasantly in evidence 

 whenever they are present, hence they need not 

 be treated unless actually seen. A common soap 

 spray will make short work of the latter, pro- 

 viding it reaches them all. It may have to be 



J 



