300 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



a spray or sprinkle, using an ounce of Paris green to ten or twelve 

 gallons of water. 



Lead arsenate, either in paste or powder form, may be used at 

 the rate of one pound to fifteen gallons of water well stirred in 

 and frequently stirred during application. A very convenient way 

 is to use arsenate of lead powder as a "dry spray" dusted on the 

 foliage to be protected. Mix the powder with an equal amount of 

 sulphur, flour, sifted ashes or any finely powdered neutral substance. 

 One of the best of these powders is sifted ashes. The mixture is 

 put into a small bag of cheese cloth or other similar material, and 

 shaken over the plants. Being easily seen, the operator can apply 

 as much or as little as he wishes. If applied in early morning the 

 moisture will cause the material to adhere to the leaves more closely. 

 An application every ten days should keep the pests under control 

 except when followed by a rain, in which case the new application 

 should be made. 



Either Paris green or lead arsenate will kill all forms of in- 

 sects, large or small, which make holes in leaves. It only becomes 

 ineffective when insects occur in such vast multitudes that the plant 

 is all consumed before all the insects are supplied with the poison. 

 This would happen in the case of an invasion by grasshoppers or 

 army worms, which, fortunately, does not often occur in garden 

 practice. 



For larvae which come from the ground and destroy the plant 

 by cutting the stem, Paris green and arsenate of lead, either dust or 

 sprinkle, may be placed on tender leaves or sprigs of alfalfa which 

 are placed on the ground beside the plants to be protected. The 

 most injurious insects of this kind are called "cutworms." It is 

 also often satisfactory to use the the poison in this way : 



Coarse bran, 16 Ibs. ; Paris Green, ^ Ib. ; salt, % lb. ; cheap syrup, 1 qt. ; 

 warm water to make a coarse, crumbly mash. Be sure not to get the material 

 sloppy ; it should fall apart readily in the hand after being pressed together. 



Place a spoonful of this near the plants being injured, not 

 getting it too near the stalk. It is a good plan to do this in the 

 evening so the mash will remain moist for a longer time. If a new 

 lot of worms hatch, the dose will have to be repeated. Poultry and 

 pet animals must be kept away. 



The same preparation is also very effective for grasshoppers 

 in vineyards, but, as already stated, there is little chance of coping 

 with grasshoppers or army worms in the garden by poisoning. Un- 

 less they can be checked by walls of fire or streams of running 

 water around the garden, the gardener has little to do but to replant 

 as soon as they have passed on their way. 



When biting insects attack plants which it is not thought safe 

 to poison, the use of a powder of air-slacked lime or of dry wood 

 ashes is often effective in discouraging their attacks. Another re- 

 pellant which sometimes works like a charm is kerosene powder 



