Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-21
SAVING HOME GARDEN CROPS
FROM PESTS MATTER OF SYSTEM
Ounce of Prevention Worth Bushel of Cure-Vareties
and Costs of Sprayers Described-How to Know
When Spraying Is Needed-General Rules
By JOHN BARTRAM

The home gardener viii have to combat
ne hosts Of plant enemies. This is the
time of year they make their first drive
or spring offensive. It is better to deaf with
them as single spies than to wait till they
come In bRttalions Prevention is better
than cure, though the amateur must not
think that there is no cure for the swarms
OF Insects that infest certain plants at GER
tain times, Advances Of modern agricul-
ture have made possible short shrift for
plant pests through careful experiments
covering all varieties. There are numerous
sprays and patent preparations on the mar
ket. All of them have special utility for
definite purposes, some of them are general
enough TO serve a variety of purposes.
"Swarms" and "sprays'-all this sounds
discouraging. But very often garden
will go through a season without any seri-
Gus attack; particularly If the ounce OF pre-
vention is applied TO insure bushels of
crops II Is a good idea to spray on gem
eral principles early in the game, and thus
have remedial agencies all ready to con-
front the bugs that prey IN plants Many
of them winter over in the egg FORM ana
when the hatchings peep out on the Dig
green world their first nibble at the luXurl-
ant foliage of the plant they favor ends
their career by the poison. waiting to twist
their dummies" into knots Not only is the
initial brood wiped out by forehandtt
spraying, but propagation is prevented inns
is exceedingly important, as many xmas OF
insects have three ana IOuT BeHeIdblOHS III "a
season. When leaves curl or twist or turn
yellow or drop off or show minute holes,
here is warning that the pests have started
in their appointed mission to ruin crops
and make home gardeners swear. Then Is
the high sign indicated for immediate ousl-
ness with the sprayer.
The little work necessary to keep garden
crops free from insect and fungus ravages
10 well worth the energy and time II
sounds like a constant drill but IL ls
really a matter Of system and watchful
eye.
Elaborate and expensive apparatus Is not
needed. Sprayers can be bought for as III
tie as thirty-fiv cents. These are made OF
tin and hold a quart They should be good
for a whole season with decent treatment.
such as washing out the tank atter each
lob OF spraying These small hand spray
era come IN brass at 81 or so for a quart
and can be bought for as large quantities as
a gallon Then there are automatic spray
ers holding from a gallon TO three gallons
made OF galvanized metal or Drass' anu
ranging In price from Sc 10 double that
price according to capacity and material
IL these a plunger congresses the air IN
the Allied tank, and all that is necessary IS 70
aim the stream of spray. They can be useu
for trees of considerable height by the use
az an extension pipe, which is bought extra,
An the parts are standardized In the various
makes OF automatic sprayers. They can
BE- operated by single individual Also
there are special sprayers which will hold
. larger quantity of liquid In a bucket 20
which the spraying device Is attached.
These require two TO work them, one TO
pump and the other 70 spray. Various ad-
dltions and notifications are found on the
spraying apparatus. such as barrel spray
ers. wheelbarrow sprayers and horse
1prayers.
There are two general rules which II fol-
lowed viii make spraying effective.
a. - fhR
leaves for these are often the area at
lacked. Eggs are laid there and hatch out
ana the leaves curl, 80 that ordinary spray
inr Is lneffectual II leaves are badly
turlod. Il is a good plan TO clip them on and
n l1ko the curling as a sign that the under
side of the other leaves on the plant or tree
..o.lId Be cared for AZ once. The young tips
1I Ilo branches with new leaf growth are
I. q bl|nf pi attack.
&rt4I|AE should be eqre on = pHt4h