60 L. P. GUNSON & CO., ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
Very few beetles will be killed by the above dusts or sprays but the materials are 
distasteful to the beetles and drive them away. To secure satisfactory results it is 
necessary to distribute the material thinly and uniformly over all parts of the 
plant. Heavy accumulation of the dust may cause leaf injury. The whole field 
should be treated on one day for the beetles are not killed but merely driven from 
the plants. If only a part of the field is dusted, they will congregate in the un- 
treated area. An effective means of destroying large numbers of cucumber beetles 
is to provide a supply of squash seedlings in the cucumber field as “‘trap’’ plants. 
The squash seedlings are not treated and the beetles tend to congregate on them 
in large numbers. By the judicious application of a blow torch the beetles are then 
easily destroyed on the traps. 
Nicotine Dust 
On days when the temperature is high (80 degrees Fahrenheit or more) and the 
air is very quiet, heavy applications of a freshly made four per cent nicotine dust 
will kill many of the beetles. To make a four per cent nicotine dust, mix 1 quart 
of nicotine sulphate with 25 pounds of hydrated lime. 
MEXICAN BEAN BEETLES 
These pests produce a lace curtain effect on bean foliage. To control apply a one 
per cent rotenone dust to the under side of the leaves. Do not use calcium or lead 
arsenate, it burns the foliage. 
GARDEN PEAS 
Garden peas suffer severe damage from the ravages of rootrot fungi. Treat pea 
seed with red copper oxide or Spergon before planting. Such treatment will secure 
better stands and more vigorous plants. 
YELLOW SPINACH 
Yellow spinach may be due to either too much or too little acidity in the soil. 
Too much acidity can be corrected with lime. It needs a soil test to find out which 
is the trouble. But if there is too much lime or the soil is only slightly alkaline a top 
dressing of sulphate of ammonia will restore the acidity. 
Lettuce Seed 
Lettuce seed soaked in water 5 or 10 minutes, drained and stored wet for 5 days 
at 33 to 39 degrees, then dried and planted, showed an improvement in germina- 
tion. 
Spraying Lima Beans 
Spraying with bordeaux mixture, made up of four parts copper sulfate, six 
parts hydrated lime and fifty gallons of water, just before the plants are in bloom 
will give effective control of mildew and bacterial spot on lima beans and may 
make the difference between success and a total loss of the crop in years of severe 
infection. After the young plants have begun to set pods, three to six additional 
applications should be made, depending upon the season. Never wait until disease 
is present before spraying. Best results are obtained by early spraying plus late 
applications. 
Onion Thrips 
Plant set onions as far away as possible from seed onions if you fear thrips for 
the sets will be a breeding place for the pests and they migrate to the seed onions 
as soon as they are up, thus destroying both crops. New York lost 20 per cent of 
its 8000 acres in onions one year. 
Storing Potatoes 
Heavier losses are suffered by high temperatures than from low; 34 to 40 degrees 
Fahrenheit are ideal, below 34 means freezing and above 40 degrees conditions are 
favorable for sprouting. If the air is too dry evaporation losses from potatoes 
will cause shrinkage and if too moist, moisture will collect on the walls and ceiling 
and on the tubers. Presence of drops of moisture on the ceiling or on the pile is a 
danger signal, for rot will begin unless ventilators are provided that may be opened 
on a relatively cold day. As potatoes are alive there is need of oxygen and it 
must be obtained from fresh air. Darkened areas on the tubers and a low vitality 
can be charged to lack of oxygen in the storage. 
