The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-06

means for destroying insects or holding
 them in check. They point out the fact
 however, that preventive measures are best
 1 It is important to have the soil deeply plowed or spaded and made loose and 1 light with plenty of well-rotted manure | or compost and to keep the ground culti- vated so that the surface will not become hard or weedy. Use the best seed to
 be had, and SOW it literally to get a good stand, but thin out the plants, as over- crowded plants are in much greater dam
 ger of becoming diseased than those that
 receive plenty of air and sunshine. Farmers have found that by rotating their crops they reduce the injury from plant diseases and insects and also in- crease the fertility of the soil. This prin- ciple applies to the home garden, where, if possible, it will be better to make a new plan each year, placing each vege- able where some other grew the year be- | fore-peas on the old tomato ground, beets and carrots after the corn, etc. The details of this rotation must vary in each case according to the climate, soil :. and vegetables grown and the diseases and insects to be guarded against. ANOlU introducing liiSSCtS anu bioNbSCa on plants obtained for setting out. Prac- tice clean cultivation. Employ fertilizers tc stimulate plant growth. Work on the principle that vigorous growing gar den will produce a crop in spite Of in furious insects and diseases.
 Become familiar with the insects and diseases known to o9cur in your district on the crops you are growing. rlt-- yourself in advaDce Win all necessary
 remedies anC the means of applying them Remember that the timely ap- pication of remeoy acts as an insur- ance against loss.
 Watch constantly for the first appear ance of disease or insect. Inspect ,-i- garden at least every' other day. Deter mine what is causing injury and apply the proper treatment promptly. Use com binaton treatments in case complica- tion of troubles is present. Repeat treat
 ments as often as necessary, keeping in mind the influence of weather condi- tions as well as the life history of the insect or fungus causing the disease. Tse insecticides and fungicides in the proper dilution to accomplish the object without injuring the plants Standard remedies are best. Test others experi- mentally before using them on a large scale.
 Use the best sprayers. A thorough ap- DlIcatlOn IS necessary TUT liit bS9N Adjust the sprayer so that all parts or the plant that are exposed to the air will be covered.
 Work for cooperation in the neighbor- hood One badly infected or infested garden may be the source of disease l\ lection or insect infestation for several nearby gardens. Keep your own garden clean and it will be an object lesson for careless neighhors and will have tti- dency to help clean up the neighborhood. This will make control easier and cheap CT another year.
 For garden insects there are several control methods that do not require rhe use of insecticides, but too much must not be expected from them Of these hand picking is useful for large, com naratively inactive insects such as the potato beetle, cutworms and other cater pillars and the squash bug Another method is jarring or beating insects rom low plants into large pans of water on which a thin scum of kerosene is float Ing The water prevents the insects from escaping and the kerosene, being on the surface kills the insects with which if comes in contact. Collecting nets are valuable for some pests, for example, the tarnished plant bug. Brushing by differ ent means is used to considerable ex- tent and consists in beating or brushing insects from the plants WllH plHS pOu5li or similar brush. This method has
 proved of great value in combating the
 pea aphis Covering with cloth is or
 use as a preventive for the striped cu-
 cumber beetle when the cucumbers are
 quite small, and for root maggots. Trap
 ping by different methods with old booI.ds
 is useful for squash bugs and cutworins
 Poisoned baits may be placed under such
 traps Flowing, disking and narrowing
 all can be done by hand and are of con-
 siderable service.
 To be successful in the control of in
 sects and diseases spraying must be done
 promptly and thoroughly. Spraying with
 Bordeaux mixture should be done before
 rains rather than after, provided the
 spray has time to dry on the leaves. 1n
 tervals between spraying should depend
 on the weather. If it is rainy, or muggy
 with fogs or heavy dews. spray frequently
 to keep the foliage protected at all times.
 If dry, a longer time may be allowed.
 The ideal spray is fine mist, and the
 best work Is done when the plant is
 thoroughly and evenly covered with fine
 drops sto1- spraying before the foliage
 is drenched
 The highes the pressure, the better the
 spray.
 Clean all sprayers each time after
 using. A
 For delicate foliage, spray after this
 gets undef shade. Hot sunlight is dan gerous with many sprays. such as kero-
 sene emulsion.