Evening star., 1947-05-11

more potent materials and To the
heed given BY manufacturers 70 the
needs OF the home gardener. there
are q number Of products available
which do the job. It IS possible to
buy one dust or one spray and BY
applying It regularly to get = rea-
sonable degree Of control OF the
common insects and diseases.
The manufacturers are now put
ting out combinations Of insecti-
3cides and ftlngicides that include
the much-talked-of DDT and the
new fungicide, ferric-dimethyl lditho-
carbamate, which Is coramonly sold
under trade names rather than by
that four-pronged mouthful. Most
combinations include other mate
rials which broaden their effective
ness. Some include sabidilla, rote-
none, pyrethrum and sulphur. How
ever, there Is usually q division
OF the materials into two groups,
one for vegetables and the other
for ornamentals. The dusts or
sprays for fruits and vegetables
omit DDT because Of the possible
danger to humans. For ornamen-
tails, which are so generally trou-
bled by the Japanese beetle, DDT
is considered necessary.
Safety With Vegetables.
For vegetables. most Of which are
not troubled by the japanese beetle,
rotenone and pyrethrum are used
for control Of insects. Both are
needed since neither one is effec-
tive against all of the common in
sect pests. DDT is injurious to the
vine crops, especially to squash. The
new fungicide with the tongue
twisting name is excellent for the
control Of many plant diseases, M
cluding the potato blights, which
were so destructive to the tomato
crop last season. The combination
of rotenone, pyrethrum and the new
fungicide may be used in the yege-
table garden with safety. It will
control many OF the pests that ordi-
narily annoy the home gardener.
However, they will not control the
squash vine borer. which Is so de-
structiye to the vine crops cucun1-
Der and squash. It still seems that
the best remedy is to grow vine
crops under wire or cloth screen
until they reach the vine stage,
using rotenone freely and hand
picking the golden egg masses from
the undersides Of the leaves.
The DDT and fungicide spray or
dust for ornamentals Is quite effec-
tive although some will ask us why
we bother to use the fungicide when
all that we are concerned with Is
to keep the Jap beetles from devour-
ing the plants. There Is no par
ticular point except that it enables
us to have one dust or spray for
the ornamentals and one for the
vegetable garden, thus avoiding the
necessity of having more than the
two kinds Of materials. "The fewer
the better" is probably = much be-
lieved rule when it comes to simple
home garden pest control. The ex-
perts, however, want q specific
remedy for each bug and disease
and they will. not appreciate the
fseling Of the small gardener. Even
SO, many viii argue for nicotine sui
phate which is still the best remedy
for the aphids, but good soapy water
with a few drops of kerosene viii
work wonders in fighting them.
Comparative Methods.
We have mentioned frequently
the fact that the materials may be
applied either as dusts or IS sprays
and some will want our opinion as
to which is the better. There Is
no simple answer. Both are effec-
tive II reasonably well applied. Dusts
take less time to apply but sprays
remain on the foliage longer. Dusts
can only be applied In the morning
or evening when the air Is still.