even into September over much of the state. Sprays of carbaryl (Sevin) , using 

 2 tablespoons of the 50-percent wettable powder per gallon of water, are effective. 

 When worms are present, spray the tomato plants every 5 to 7 days. There is no 

 waiting period between treatment with carbaryl and harvest of the tomatoes . 



.An assortment of insect pests like flea beetles , bean beetles , striped and spotted 

 cucumber beetles , and other leaf- feeding beetles can be found attacking vegetables 

 in home gardens . Carbaryl (Sevin) or malathion will control these insects. Use 

 2 tablespoons of 50 -percent carbaryl (Sevin) wettable powder or 2 teaspoons of 50- 

 to 57-percent malathion liquid concentrate per gallon of water. Follow label 

 directions for the waiting period between spraying and harvest and for other pre- 

 cautions. Make the applications in early evening to avoid injury to bees. 



WEEDS 



Weeds are still bad news in many fields where adequate cultivation and spraying 

 have not been possible because of wet weather. 



2,4-D is about the only spray to consider for corn at this late date. Usually we 

 are not very enthusiastic about late spraying, but much more than normal may be 

 justified this year. 



Most 2,4-D labels say, "Do not apply from tasseling to dough stage." This state- 

 ment is apparently based on early research which showed that spraying at certain 

 critical stages might interfere with development of grain. In one Iowa study, 

 2,4-D was sprayed on corn plants at various stages. Applying 2,4-D when tassels 

 were beginning to emerge resulted in inhibition of ear shoots . And application of 

 2,4-D 1 to 4 days before silk emergence caused severe inhibition of seed set on 

 the developing ear. 



Each year, 2,4-D causes some brittleness and breakage of corn, some onion- leafing, 

 and some malformation of brace roots. But we have had very few reports from 

 farmers' fields of 2,4-D affecting ear and grain development. Perhaps this is 

 partly because of precautions to avoid spraying during the critical period, more 

 resistant hybrids, and minimal amounts of 2,4-D applied directly to the corn leaves. 



But it still seems safest to avoid spraying during the critical stages, especially 

 during early development of the ear shoots (this is about the time tassels begin 

 to emerge) and just before silks emerge. 



Silks are usually pollinated very soon after they emerge. After fertilization and 

 when the silks are drying, there is apparently less risk of injury from 2,4-D. 

 However, fertilization is followed by a period of rapid nutrient uptake and movement 

 of food materials to the grain. Stress conditions or injury of various kinds during 

 this stage may interfere with normal kernel development. 



Although weeds will usually be large, "tough," and harder to kill with 2,4-D, 

 spraying can be resumed after the grain is well on its way and in the dough stage . 

 The dough stage begins about 5-1/2 weeks after silks begin to emerge. During the 

 dough stage, the silks are dry, kernels are still developing, and starch is 

 accumulating. 



But remember that by the thne corn reaches the dough stage, many weeds already will 

 have done most of their damage through competition for nutrients and moisture. Many 

 weed seeds will also be developed sufficiently to be viable. The late spraying may 

 make harvesting a little easier, however. 



