216 MUCK CROPS 



Pea Louse. The annual loss from this 

 insect runs into many millions of dollars. 

 It is a small greenish-black insect with long 

 legs, found on the underside of the leaves. 

 It is very tender and, therefore, can be 

 easily controlled. On a small scale, nicotine 

 sulphate can be sprayed on the plants. A 

 solution of kerosene and water, 2$% kero- 

 sene may be used. Many birds and insects 

 are its natural enemies. In the season of 

 1912, the author saw the work of the swal- 

 lows and the martins, which destroyed mil- 

 lions of these insects on his patch of peas. 

 Another method is to cultivate the peas, 

 sending a boy ahead to knock the pests from 

 the vines, then bury these insects with the 

 cultivator. 



Diseases. Blight or Leaf Spot. This is 

 a discolored area generally found upon the 

 stem near the ground. It is somewhat 

 similar to anthracnose on the bean. The 

 disease works through the pod and to the 

 seed, infecting it. The remedy is self-evi- 

 dent. Select seed that is not infected. The 

 vines may be sprayed with bordeaux, begin- 

 ning when 4 to 6 inches in height and con- 

 tinuing about every four to six days. After 

 the crop has been harvested, the vines are 



