The Press., 1917-04-26
THE HOME GARDEN.

The following is the third article | on the home garden furnished by County Agent John E. Clifford of the Holland County Farm Bureau: In | the first two editions of the series the home garden was covered in brief way. the necessity, advantages and a general plan, and a list of seeds with approximate planting time; a thought to the land itself, the sort of soil best adapted for vegetable grow ing, tools and approximate returns from certain amount of seed Now that we have done the preliminary work of gardening let us look upon the vegetables nearing maturity. We do not always have to go to war to fight; the farmers life is one con- tinuous fight with that almost unoon- querable enemy, insect pests. There are certain insects waiting for the vegetables just as the family is wait ing to enjoy "the fruits of their labor" Let us consider a few of these insects and their control. Cab bage worm, they hatch from the eggs laid by the white butterfly, they are green, boring into the leaf. The best method to destroy this worm is to spray with kerosene emulsion, unless the cabbage is headed, when hellebore can be dusted onto them. Use this carefully, but never on growing plants as it is liable to close in with the growing leaves. The onion naggot is very much like the cabbage worm. To control, spray with carbolic acid emulsion. Of all the pests the bean weevil is the most destructive to this crop. "This insect is about ] s inch long and covered with fine brown, gray and olive pubesoence '' The female lays eggs in the pods of the bean. Breeding continues after storage and large number of insects frequent ly develop in single bean pod. They emerge the next year at planting time and continue their work of destruction. The best treatment is to fumigate with bisulphide of carbon.
 Carrot worm also affecting parsley. An insect one and half inches long, feeds on the leaves. For parsnfps use arsenate sprays. For parsley hand picking is the only remedy. The cut worm is an insect causing great loss to the tomato crop every year, every gardener is acquainted with this in- sect. The best method of controlling this insect is to wrap piece of paper around the stem and lower it into the ground sufficient to be held in place; brown paper will serve the purpose This prevents the worm from working around the root The Colorado potato beetle. Everybody knows the damage caused by this peat The beetle and larva feed upon the leaves. To control, spray with arsenicals.
 From Weekly News Letter, U. s.. Dept. of Agriculture: ''Help feed yourself, make home gardens pro- ductive. Make every square yard of fertile, sunny soil produce food for your family. Make your ground work for you and your nation. Idle ground is waste; this is no time for waste or idleness. All idle ground utilized in the production of vegetables means more food for those who have no ground ut all. You can raise some vegeta bles for your family, no matter how small piece of ground you have. Somebody has to raise everything you eat-do your share. Keep your soil working all season. Hasten early crops by starting seed in boxes in the house, in hot beds and cold frames if the weather prevents outdoor planting. Get your ground ready for planting as soon as it is dry enough to work. Plant for early crops as soon as the weather permits. Make successive plantings of lettuce, radishes, beans and other short season crops. Start new crops between the rows of plants that are soon to be removed. As fast as the ground can be cleared start another crop. See that your garden toward fall is full of potatoes, beets, turnips and other staple foods that can be stored for the winter. Your children, too, can help save all surplus fruits and vegetables. Gan surplus beans, peas. corn, tomatoes, beets, etc. for winter use. Every can of vegetables or fruits and every jar of preserved food means that you have saved food materials that would have otherwise been wasted. Demonstrate thrift in your home. Make saving your social standing, rather than spending.