Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-02
SPRAYING THE GARDEN
TO GET BETTER CROPS
W. A. Orion Lectures on
''PIant Diseases and the
Home Acre" at r. M. CA.

Practical directions for raising healthy
crops in the city back yard were given
last night by w. A. Orion. plant pathoio-
gist of the bureau Of plant industry, De-
partment of Agriculture, in lecture on
PLANT Diseases and the Home Acre." de-
livered before the educational department
of the Young Mems Christian Assoc1a-
ton. The lecture concluded the series on
home agriculture for the city man which
has been given at weekly intervals at the
Y. M. C. A. by experts Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
Mr.. Orion declared that plant santa
ton was now recognized as one great
means for increasing crop yields. Funda-
mentally, he said, plant sanitation de-
pended on a deep, fertile soil, well titled.
He advised that all humus, or organic
matter such as leaves and grass, be con-
served for soil development, with the ex-
ception Of the humus that may have
come from diseased plants. Fungus dis
eases in hotbeds and frames he attributed
to excessive heat and moisture, and said
that they could be prevented by ventlla-
ton and careful watering, given IN the
early morning.
Use of Bordeaux Mixture.
In spraying, Mr.. Orion recommended the
preparation Of copper sulphate, lime ana
water known as Bordeaux mixture. This
preparation, Mr.. Orton said, could De
made at home and was not only prac-
tical cure-all for parasitic diseases. but
also acted as a great stimulant for plant
growth. A new preparation, Wmch can
also be made by any one, he SAID, was
the so-called ''self-boiled lime and SUI
phur. which was peculiarly valuable for
peach rot and brown spot on 1ru1t
Mr. orion then discussed the diseases
of particular garden plants. In deanng
with the ailments OF potatoes, ne SAID
by soaking the seed potatoes in a mix,
ture of one pint of formaldehyde ana
three gallons of water
internal brown spot is disease of the
potato which Mr.. Orion said was COM
mon about Washington. The spots are
dead cells, according to his investiga-
tons, and the disease arises. he asserted
apparently from deficient water supply
during the period of growth. However,
he said that If potatoes affected with TINS
disease are used for seed there seems to
be no difference in the health or the
crop.
Diseases of Tomatoes.
Leaf spot is a common disease OF
tomatoes which can likewise be con-
trolled by applications of Bordeaux
mixture. Root knot Is another disease
affecting not alone tomatoes. but also
some 400 kinds Of similar plants for
which there seems to be no specific
remedy Mr.. Orion recommended that
plants SO affected be destroyed. The dis
ease. he said. was caused by a minute
organism getting into the roots of the
plant and causing them to swell, thus
retarding the growth of the plant as a
whole. II the disease once gets into
greenhouses Mr.. Orion declared that the
only way to check 1t was to take out
the soil or else to sterilize the soil with
live steam.
Blight on cucumbers, cantalOupes and
watermelons could best be checked by
applications Of Bordeaux mixture, he
said. However, he pointed out that the
mixture must be applied in time, and ap-
piled thoroughly.
The diseases Of beans, cabbages, cauli-
flowers, turnips and radishes were also
dealt with by the speaker.