The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-19
BY G.. NJ. BENTLY. Tennessee


given to the prevention of the intro |
duction of crop pests by judicious leg
Islation, to the selection of resistant |
plants, to the elimination Of weeds and |
worthless plants which harbor pests |
or act as intermediary hosts and are
often of the same family as those
under cultivation, to judicious rota-
tion of crops, and to better drainage.
cultivation and fertilization.
Cultural methods of overcoming at
tack and injury by pests are based
upon knowledge of their habits and
life histories. Simple rotations, season
of planting, the use of trap plants, fall
plowing, early planting, and many
other average operations of the farm.
If done with an intelligent knowledge
of the habits and development of the
pests to be controlled, will often of
themselves prove decidedly efficient.
The succession of the same or simi-
lar crops on the same land has proved
disastrous in more ways than by re-
duction of soil fertility. It's encour-
agement of the increase of insects and
fungi has become notorious. The
corn rootworm, boil worm, or (corn
ear worm), Hessian fly, and many
other pests are more or less affected
10y crop rotation. and their control by
this method should be carefully
studied.
In some sections affected with con-
tagious diseases of live stock pasture
rotation is essential. In the control Of
stomach and intestinal worms in
sheep, hogs and cattle, intelligent ro-
tation covering definite periods, based
upon longevity and life history of the
pests. is now recognized as the most
available and economical plan.
The fever cattle tick may be perma-
nently eradicated by positive rotation.
hos h.A
horses are removed from a pasture
during the summer months it becomes
free from the ticks. During the winter
II infested cattle are run upon a corn
field or other cultivated field upon
which no animals have been during
the summer all ticks will drop Off
after which the, animals may be
placed upon the pasture that was
freed of ticks during the previous
summer.
While it may seem anomalous prob
ably the greatest factors in the con-
troll Of the insects. at least, are other
insects and fungous diseases which are
are truly friends Of the producer, but
they cannot be brought thoroughly
under his control until insect life is
better understood. Unable to identify
these friends or to understand their
operations, man too often treats them
as enemies or minimizes their mission.
Birds as factors in insect control
should be recognized. 1t is nOt-un-
common to find large numbers of birds
doing very effective work in control
ling insect outbreaks.
Insecticides are substances which
kill insects. FungicideS are substances
which destroy fungous diseases. Wher
insects and fungous diseases prevail
upon the same plants insecticides and
Ey,r wi,.,1 doe bn hi trnl nd h
two results gained from one applica.
ton. Variable results have been OBJ
tanned from the use of insecticides anC
fungicides due largely to climate con
ditions and to the quality, age ant
preparation of the ingredients usec
and the combinations made. A knoWl
edge of the pest being treated and th'
nature of the plant infested is an i'm
portant consideration.
Spraying has passed the eXperimen
tai stage and is practiced by all up-tO
date gardeners and fruit growers
The grower should know the com
mon diseases and insects that affec
his plants, should know their habit
and life history, SO as to know wha
treatment to use and at what stag
in the life of the organism. Too mucl
emphasis can not be placed upon tn
necessity of doing the work at tn
right time with the proper solution
and with thoroughnesS of application
The most successful applications fo
plant diseases are made before tn
diseases appear because the rem
edies are preventives rather tha
cures. The vegetative portion Of tn
fungus producing the disease grow
within the tissue of the host plant an
cannot be reached after it has oh
tained a foothold. Proper applicatio
Of fungicide WILL however, prever
the spread Of the disease to othe
plants. The best time to spray fC
diseases. therefore. is about the tim
the spores are ripening and being dis
tributed.
There are two general classes {
diseases. G) Fungus diseases al
those caused by the growth Of flung
which are small parasitic plants, e