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Vol. 
No. 
FIGHT FLORAL CO., 
22'W. 26th Street, New vark Nosy: 
APRIL 
1942 
Inc. 


**An Ounce of Prevention” 
You surely have heard that old “saw” 
many times before, but this is really the time 
to take heed. There is no question about the 
eventual scarcity of insecticides and fungi- 
cides. Some are no longer being made now, 
others are in the questionable group. And 
you can’t stock up for a long period, 
ticularly with ma- 
terials containing 
pyrethrum and ro- 
tenone. Hence, let 
us consider the 
means of preven- 
tion. This will save 
par- 
much time and 
spray materials 
later. 
The place to make 
a start is with the 
seedling or cutting. 
First of all, steam 
sterilization of soil 
or propagating sand 
is necessary, but re- 
member that no 
matter how stevie 
the sand or soil is 
after you have 
steamed it (and 
steam incidentally will surely not be on the 
priority list, unless coal or other fuel becomes 
so, and then it won’t matter anyway), it can 
become readily reinfected by the many fungus 
spores which float about in the air, become 
secreted in crevices, under benches, sash bars, 
etc. So why not dust your propagating house 
thoroughly with fine sulphur or spray with 
sulphur (Fungisul is one of the best). Pick 
out a sunny day and blow away with all your 
might at the bars, the benches, under benches 
(or. spray). It costs little, hurts no plants, 
and will pay dividends in higher germination, 
better rooting, and much less rotting. In 
addition apply potassium permanganate to 
your sand (4 oz. to a gallon of water). ‘This 

will disinfect your sand and provide a cover- 
ing on which the spores are not so likely to 
germinate. 
Secondly, be sure that your propagating 
benches are thoroughly sterilized. Smearing 
with whitewash alone does not do it—neat 
looking as it might be. The cuttings you 
put in “should be free of insects and disease. 
Simple examples are midge on mum cuttings, 
red spider on roses, 
mealy bugs on gar- 
denias, and thrip on 
innumerable types. 
Cankered gardenias, 
geraniums with 
black leg, roses with 
canker, carnations 
with rust, mums 
with verticillium 
have no place in the 
propagating bench. 
You really will be 
pleasantly surprised 
at the after-effects. 
If added to this you 
take similar care 
of your growing 
houses, if you dust 
and spray before 
benching a crop, if 
you remove weeds 
and rubbish from underneath, if you keep 
the weeds down on the outside, if you re- 
move and burn all diseased plants, if you do 
all this and more, you will be surprised all 
the more. Your bills for insecticides and fun- 
gicides will decrease, and furthermore in times 
of scarcity of these materials you will still 
be able to grow good crops. Perhaps even 
better than ever, for no matter how harmless 
the spray or dust is, if it can be done without, 
the plant will be happier, your labor cost will 
be lower, and your nightmares of bugs will be 
reduced to the minimum. (Potassium perman- 
ganate, sulphur dusts, arsenical dusts, coppers 
and similar materials keep their strength for 
long periods and may be_ stocked safely.) 
Ty: 
Lie x AN RY 
iV iCD 
* 
Department of Agriculture 


