52 PIGTOEIAL FEACTICAL VEGETABLE GROWIXG. 



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Chapter 6 —Diseases and insect Pests, 



The lecturer on horticultural subjects soon finds that the joint in 

 his armour which is tested the most frequently is that bearing on 

 his knowledge of the enemies of crops, and the means of extirpating 

 them. He may be able to describe in minutest detail every phase in 

 the great art of making a hole with a crowbar to grow a big Carrot, 

 but unless he is able to present an anxious inquirer with an 

 infallible remedy for getting rid of the Carrot's natural enemy, he 

 will be regarded as found wanting. 



Of course, the lecturer discovers this sooner or later, and then 

 proceeds to distribute recipes broadcast. He has been doing this for 

 some years now, and the same thing was done by horticultural 

 editors in years gone by ; but there seem to be just as many wails 

 over the depredations of plant pests as ever there were. Either the 

 recipes are not what they ought to be, or else the anxious inquirer 

 forgets all about them when the time comes to put the information 

 to the test. 



There may be some vegetables that are not attacked by injurious 

 fungi or insects, but they are very few. I have never known 

 Artichokes affected during all the years that I have grown them, 

 and the same may be said of Leeks. On the other hand, Potatoes, 

 Cabbages and other Greens, Onions, Carrots, Celery, Parsnips, 

 Beetroot, Peas, Beans, Cucumbers, Salsify, Tomatoes, and Turnips 

 are all troubled. 



In offering a few hints on the subject of combating vegetable 

 enemies, it may be convenient if I take the several crops alpha- 

 betically. 



Asparagus 



Grubs of a slaty colour, and about J inch long, may often 

 be seen infesting Asparagus shoots in summer. They come from 

 the eggs of a bluish black beetle named Crioceris Asparagi. and 

 often do much damage. Prepare the following mixture, and dip the 

 infested shoots in it, afterwards syringing with clear water : — 



^ lb. soft soap. 



i lb. flowers of sulphur. > Mix well in a pail of warm water. 

 i lb. soot. J 



Beans;— 



There are two enemies of Beans which surpass in mischief all 

 others, namely the black dolphin and the red spider. 



