INSECTS, DISEASES, AND CONTROL 291 



the strength given in this exercise. Directions for diluting 

 the mixture are usually given with it. 



7. Self-Boiled Lime-Sulfur. — ^Use eight pounds powdered sulfur 

 and eight pounds of fresh burned lime with fifty gallons of water. 

 The lime should be placed in a barrel and enough water poured on 

 to almost cover it. As soon as the lime begins to slake the sulfur 

 is added, after running it through a sieve to break up the lumps. 

 Stir the mixture constantly and add more water to form at first a 

 thick paste and then gradually a thin paste. This may require three 

 or four gallons. 



In the preparation of this mixture the heat from the 

 slaking of the lime is enough to boil the mixture several min- 

 utes. More vi'ater may be added to cool the mixture and 

 prevent further cooking. It is then 'ready to be strained into 

 a spray barrel, diluted and used. The above mixture is called 

 8-8-50, and is used as a summer spray on peaches, plums and 

 cherries. Trials of this mixture on potato vines have proved 

 successful in the prevention of blight and the fighting of flea 

 beetles. 



Garden Friends. — When fighting the insects, we should 

 feel some satisfaction in the fact that the garden has a number 

 of friends in nature. Chief among these should be mentioned : 

 (1) Such helpful insects as tiger beetles, ground beetles, some 

 lady-bird beetles, insects that are parasitic upon others, such 

 as Ichneumon fly, chaleis-fly, and others ; (3) toads; (3) non- 

 venomous snalces; (4) moles; (5) birds; (6) sometimes 

 poultry; (7) lizards. 



Beneficial Insects. — Young gardeners should learn to dis- 

 tinguish between the beneficial and the injurious' insects. 

 Some of the bulletins and books mentioned in Chapter XXIV 

 will aid greatly in doing this. 



Toads and Other Friends. — Insect-eating animals should 

 be protected. Someone has said that a toad in a garden is 

 worth twenty dollars to the gardener because of the many 

 insects it will destroy. The toad begins feeding some time 

 after sundown, searching for insects along roadsides, gardens. 



