THE 
GARDEN YARD 228 
irritable state of the digestive organs, and the 
trouble could have been stayed. To be sure, 
the ounce of prevention costs something, but 
not nearly so much as the pound of cure. It is 
a question of business foresight, as well as pa- 
rental affection, to watch the child, and the crop, 
and forestall disease. 
Crops need careful watching, and to forestall 
most diseases there is nothing better than spray- 
ing. Once upon a time the man who sprayed. 
his crops was a rarity, and his neighbors were not 
sure that he had not taken leave of his senses, but 
now the man who does not use the spray, is the 
notable exception—a monument of foolishness. 
If you take the pains to find out what your 
soil will grow, you will know what insects and 
diseases are likely to attack your crops, and you 
can plan your campaign against them with 
intelligence. 
Begin at the beginning, which is in the winter. 
First find out what spraying mixtures are best 
for dealing with the pests you are tomeet. This 
can be done by writing the Department of Ag- 
riculture or by the study of books. Then study 
agricultural papers and Department bulletins 
as to the best spraying machines or nozzles on 
the market, and buy what you need. 
Where any doubt about the quality of seed 
