CHAPTER X. 



INSECTS AND DISEASES. 



THE wise gardener uses the spray to pre- 

 vent disease and the attacks of insects, 

 instead of waiting to fight them after 

 they have arrived. But if they attack your 

 garden you must fight them intelligently and 

 without ceasing. 



The destruction by insects, is, generally speak- 

 ing, easily seen, but diseases of plants are not so 

 plain, and have only been carefully studied even 

 by experts during the past fifty years. At 

 present, all we know is how to fight insects and 

 diseases by different substances, put on or about 

 the plants. As fresh discoveries are constantly 

 being made, we will some day get rid of all these 

 difficulties. It is always better to get the advice 

 of an expert when insects or diseases become 

 troublesome. 



Anything in the soil or surroundings of your 

 garden which interferes with the plants during 

 the growing season, weakens the crop and lays it 

 open to attacks. Plants are like children. If 

 they are badly fed, poorly clothed, ill housed or 

 neglected, they are far more likely to become 

 diseased than if they are kept in a good state. 

 So look after your drainage, the character of the 



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