MAY: FOURTH WEEK 139 



Ammunition for Garden Pests 



For chewing insects Paris green and arsenate of lead 

 are the standard remedies. The latter has two distinct 

 advantages it stays on much longer, and can be used 

 without the danger of burning the foliage that always ac- 

 companies use of Paris green. Arsenate of lead may be 

 had in either paste or powder form. In comparing prices 

 of different kinds check up the percentage of arsenic oxide 

 each contains. The powder is equally as good as the paste 

 for wet spraying, and in addition can be used for dusting. 

 In the latter case it should be applied while the foliage is 

 dry. Hellebore is not so effective as either Paris green or 

 arsenate of lead, but it washes off readily and is therefore 

 sometimes used on half-grown crops, such as currants and 

 cabbage. 



For sucking insects there are several good forms of in- 

 secticides, most of which have some form of nicotine as their 

 chief ingredient. Usually the higher the percentage of 

 nicotine the more economical the material, even though it 

 costs more. 



Tobacco dust is to some extent effective, but it is par- 

 ticularly useful as a preventive, not only of sucking insects 

 but also of most of the chewing bugs, such as cucumber 

 beetle, squash bug, and so on. If used freely on the leaves 

 and about the plants before the bugs appear it acts as a 

 repellent that is well worth the small cost of using it. 



Kerosene emulsion, which may be either made at home 

 or bought ready prepared in a stock solution to be diluted 

 with water, is another standard remedy for sucking insects. 

 It is perfectly safe and a good watering will remove all 

 traces from the plant; for these reasons it is a good spray 

 for plants near the house. 



Plant diseases, so far as garden work is concerned, usually 

 take one of three forms blight, or yellowing and dying of 

 the foliage; mildew; and anthracnose, or spotting and 

 hardening of parts of the leaves, fruits or stalks. The 

 standard remedy for fungous diseases of this sort has for 



