Chapter XIII 



INSECTS AND DISEASES AND METHODS OF FIGHTING 

 THEM 



I USE the term "methods of fighting" rather 

 than the more usual one, "remedies," because 

 by both experience and study I am more and 

 more convinced that so long as the commercial 

 fields of agriculture remain in the present absolutely 

 unorganized condition, and so long as the gardener 

 — home or otherwise — who cares to be neglectful 

 and thus become a breeder of all sorts of plant pests, 

 is allowed so to do — just so long we can achieve no 

 remedy worth the name. When speaking of a 

 remedy in this connection we very frequently are 

 putting the cart before the horse, and refer to some 

 means of prevention. Prevention is not only the 

 best, but often the only cure. This the gardener 

 should always remember. 



This subject of plant enemies has not yet received 

 the attention from scientific investigators which 

 other branches of horticulture have, and it is alto- 

 gether somewhat complicated. 



(158) 



