428 Other Management of the Vegetable-Garden 



theless, the old method of hand-picking is not gone bj', 

 and the gardener must not hesitate to resort to it on oc- 

 casion. The gardener should know what insects and 

 diseases are likely to appear on any crop and then be pre- 

 pared to fight them. The time to make this preparation is 

 before the crops are planted. In the winter, he should 

 secure his pumps and nozzles, buy materials for the vari- 

 ous mixtures, and inform himself as to what difficulties 

 are likely to confront him. He is then forehanded and 

 knows immediately what to do when the trouble comes. 

 Every gardener should buy a good book on insects and 

 another on fungous diseases, and then keep up to date 

 by reading the agricultural papers and the experiment- 

 station bulletins. 



An essential point in the application of any spray or 

 other material is timeliness. The minute the trouble ap- 

 pears, the antidote should be applied. The pest may be 

 dispatched more readily at this time, and also with less 

 expense of material and effort; and the plants will not 

 have suffered seriously. Another important item is thor- 

 oughness. A bug will not go to get the poison : the poison 

 must be put where the bug is. The only safe way is to 

 put the poison on every part of the plant. One thorough 

 spraying, which covers the ,plant, is worth more than a 

 half dozen efforts when the operator merely sprinkles the 

 tops of the leaves. Be sure that the spray is of the right 

 kind and well made : then do not be afraid to use it. 



The substances or materials employed for the destruc- 

 tion of the insect pests are insecticides and those for the 

 destruction and control of fungous diseases, are fungicides. 

 The prevailing kinds may be listed, together with state- 



