May: Fourth Week 



CONTROLLING INSECTS AND DISEASES IN 

 FLOWER AND VEGETABLE GARDEN; SPRAYS 

 AND SPRAYERS AND THEIR USE 



There are a few standard remedies that can be used 

 successfully against most garden troubles if they are 

 used in time. In many cases prevention must be relied 

 upon instead of cure; this is particularly true of the diseases. 

 Most of the garden insects first appear in small numbers, 

 and propagate on the plant, so you must keep sharp watch 

 at all times. Look for trouble whenever you walk through 

 your garden, and when you see a leaf curled up, or a yellow 

 spot, or a plant that looks a bit sick, do not rest until you 

 have discovered the cause of the trouble. 



First, find out whether the trouble is caused by an insect 

 or by a disease. In most cases an insect will be to blame. 

 There are three general divisions of insect enemies: The 

 chewers; the suckers; the root workers and borers. 



The chewing insects are readily recognized, as the results 

 of their work are at once visible. They include slugs and 

 caterpillars and such pests as the potato beetle and the 

 cabbage worm. Most chewing insects can be successfully 

 combated with poisons applied to the foliage which they 

 eat. 



The sucking insects include scales and plant lice of 

 various kinds, and the nymphs or young of some of the 

 other insects, such as the squash bug and the white fly. 

 These must be either asphyxiated or destroyed through 

 the action of some external corrosive. Neither the chewers 

 nor the suckers are likely to do much damage unless al- 

 lowed to multiply, which, under favorable circumstances, 

 they do with the utmost rapidity. 



135 



