Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-06-19
HOW TO PLANT
AND SPRAY.


mistake of thinking that the poisons
or sprays which are used against bugs
and caterpillars will also be effective
against blight, mildews and other dis
eases which may put in appearance
from time to time.
The very first thing which the be-
ginner should learn TO realize in con-
nection with the various diseases he
is likely to encounter in his garden is,
that they are entirely distinct and diff
ferent from insect troubles and usual
~ more serious.
Most of the diseases cannot be dis
tinguished when they first attack the
plant. 1t is only after they have be-
come so firmly established that it is
next to impossible TO check the at
tack that they become noticeable.
Moreover, while most of them attack
the outer surfaces of the plant fol-
iage or fruit first, they seen penetrate
beneath the surface and gain strong
foothold in the plant tissues them
selves where they cannot be reached
with any spray applied to the exterior
For all these reasons, the sprays TO
be used against plant diseases must,
in almost all cases, be in the nature of
representatives. rather than remedies.
The germs or spores of these different
diseases are carried through the air
or transported by insects, implements,
or other means, from diseased plants
to healthy ones If, therefore, the sur
face of young growing plants can be
covered with something which will de-
stroy germs as soon as they alight on
the healthy surfaces then it will be
possible to protect them from attacks.
Both experiments and experience
have proved that several chemicals,
or combinations of chemicals known
as fungicides has the power of killing
plant disease germs when the latter
come in contact with them. Applied
to- healthy plants, therefore, they act
as representatives., and the fact that they
must be used as representatives. and not
as remedies is the first thing that the
beginner must learn.
1t is very apparent that to be sue
cessful in warding off plant diseases
by spraying the work must be begun
early enough to get ahead of the dis
eases. 1t must be done so thoroughly
that every portion of the plant, stems,
leaves, roots, flowers or fruits must be
entirely covered and the spray must
be repeated often enough to keep the
new growth covered and protected as
it dvelops, otherwise, there will be
some spot like the heel of Achilles
which is not protected and will final
~ prove vulnerable, making much of
the rest of the work done in vain.
The frequency with which the spray
ing will have to be repeated to afford
complete protection depends on how
long the spray that is being used will
last or stick to the foliage, and upon
how rapidly new growth is being
made For potatoes, vine crops, and
other vegetables making rapid growth
the spray should be applied every
week or ten days to keep the new
growth thoroughly covered.
The various plant diseases belong
to two quite distinct classes. Most of
them such as the various blights, mill
dews and rust begin locally at some
part of the plant which is infected by
bacteria from the outside. There are
some diseases, however, which seem
to attack the whole system to the
plant from root to tip. These are call
ed constitutional" diseases, and in
the majority of cases little or nothing
can be done against them. Fortunate
ly these are in the minority.
While, scientifically, every little
plant has a trouble of its wn-some-
times two or three-most of the plant
diseases may be grouped in a few gen
eral classes, the treatments for which
are the same.
The most common of these are
blight, mildew, rots of various kinds.
and rust There are, for instance,
blights which attack potatoes and
melons, fruitro-t and stem-rot of to-
matoes, and rust Tor anthranos) on
beans-to mention but few of the
many The same treatment for pre-
vention may however be used for all,
but is much more successful with some
than with others.
In general, blight may be looked for
on potatoes, tomatoes, melons cucum-
bers and onions. Rust, or "leaf-pot,
on beans, tomatoes and celery, and
mildew on beans, peas. melons, GU
cumbers and lettuce.
There are two standard sprays used
to prevent all of these fungous dis
eases-Bordeaux Mixture and "sum-
mer" lime sulphur. There are a num-
Der of good trade preparations, sold
under trade-marked names, which
contain one or the other of these two
things as their chief ingredients.
While either Bordeau Mixture or lime
sulphur may be made at home, it is
both more convenient and more safe
for the small garden to use ready
made preparation.
As already pointed out-the success
of spraying for the prevention of plant
diseases depends on thoroughness. To
do a thorough job one must have a
good sprayer Whatever type of
sprayer you buy, get the best to be
had. Whether it is small hand ma
chine or a barrel outfit. it will mean
economy in the long run
The various spray preparations
should be used according to the direc-
tons which accompany them. Usual
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