South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-11


ravages Of insect pests from the
time the seed is confined TO Mother
Earth and after it has sprouted until
Il Is harvested. Injury is effected by
insects Of many distinct species. OF
which at least 100 forms are Of i'm
portance in the vegetable garden
throughout the United States.
In the planting of seeds or set
ting out the garden particular at
tention should be given TO guarding
against insect attack throughout the
growing season. Due care should
be taken that the proper location
for each crop be selected. that the
requisite amount OF sunlight and
heat be secured, and that the soil
be not already infested by insects.
Attention should also be given 90
deep blowing and pulverizing the
soil where necessary. Due care
should also be taken in regard 10
the seed. that +; may not be irfest-
ed by insects which will attack the
plant after it has made some little
growth. such as the bean and pea
v eevils.
After these questions have been
solved the next problem is the ques-
ton OF weather. which not only az
fccts the growing crop, but has de-
cided influence on the abundance or
scarcity OF insect foes.
Mechanical Methods.
For garden insects there are sew
eral control methods that do not re
quire the use Of insecticides. but too
much must not be expected from
them. They are useful for the con-
troll Of some forms OF pests and Of
TO value for others. Among these
are hand picking. plugging" or
beating. collecting In nets and in
hopper-dozers, blowing and ditching,
trapping and driving
Hand picking.-Hand picking is
useful for large comparatively in
active insects such as the Colorado
potato beetle, cut-worms, and other
Caterpillars, and the squash bugs. Il
is; also of use for removing egg
masses of these and other insects
This is one Of the most primitive
methods OF controlling insect pests.
but il is a simple impossible remedy
against many minute insects, such
as the smallest fea-beetles, leaf
hOppers. and plant-lice. or mature
eLd active grasshOppers.
"Bugging" or beating.-Anothe
method is Earring or beating insects
from low plants into large pans of
water on which a thin film Of kero-
sane is floating. The water prevents
the insects from escaping, and tho
Kerosene, being on the surface, kills
the insects with which II comes in
contact. The largest milk pans are
excellent for this purpose. and a
very handy beaten can quickly be
made by cutting a bOugh about two
feet long from a pine tree or other
brush.
Collecting insects in nets.-Nets
Of cheap cloth, unbleached cotton.
or strong muslin, such as are used
BIZ school children in the capture of
butterflies, are useful against some
forms Of insects affecting the gar
de3. among which is the furnished
plant bug. which is a most serious
pest in the vegetable garden. and
nearly all other insects when they
occur in large numbers when the
net can be used without injuring
the plants such a net is best en-
rlOyed by sweeping It over the
plants, as we'll as weeds and grasses
ir the vicinity. in warm weather
when the insects are abundant.
Thousands Of them may be captured
In a short time and can be killed
b. emptying the net into a fire or
into hot water.