Laurel outlook., 1950-08-02
Observation-Disclosures hn,auhhunhur
Yard and Garden
By Leonard wager
Assistant Horticulturist
Montana Extension Service

. Gardening would be a lot MOI
S fun if we did not have to wag
: continual war against insect pests
disease and weeds.
: Thanks to many discoveries il
the insecticide and fungicide field
> we can use substances that vii
more effectively control a create
number of garden pests than wa;
possible in past years. But will
the added lists of control remedie.
has come greater confusion. L
would be simple if we had one o.
a very few garden substances thar
would cure all u garden ills.
Occasionally we hear of someone
making the mistake of using
2,4-D instead of DOT to kill q
garden insect-with rather disas-
ferrous results. For that reason.
it is very important that one is
thoroughly familiar with the sub
stance and its Uses before employ
ing it in the garden. Likewise, one
should be very careful after using
weed killers that the sprayers be
thoroughly cleaned or not used at
all on broad leaf plants. Even very
small amounts of 2,4-D are in
furious to many kinds of garden
plants. Be careful!
In practicing insect control in
the garden, we should be familiar
with two broad, general classes of
insects. One group is the insects
with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Plant lice, and species of plant
bugs belong to this group. They do
not chew holes in the leaves but
pierce their mouthparts into plant
parts and suck out the plants
juices. Such insects cannot be con-
trolled by spraying the plants with
stomach poisons as the foliage is
not chewed.
This piercing and sucking group
of insects is controlled by spray
ing the affected plants with a con-
tact poison or insecticide. These
insecticides act by contracting the
body of the insect and suffocating
it. 1t is important to remember
that these insects + not controlled
effectively unless the insecticide
comes in direct contact with the
insect body. For that reason thor
ough spraying is necessary if sue
cessful control is to be realized.
One of our most common con-
tact insecticides for the garden is
nicotine sulphate.
A large number of u garden
insects are relegated to the second
group-the chewing insects. The
Colorado potato beetle in its larva
Ind adult stages, many species of
beetles, larvae of moths and but
-erflies, and grasshoppers belong
o this group of insects. They are
controlled by spraying
he affected plants with a stomach
The insect is killed by poi
through the eating of the
coating the host plant. Ar
.enical poisons such as arsenate of
cad, p%ryrethrum, rotenone and ,
)DT are examples of stomach poi ,
ons. DOT has an additional action 4
f p~aralyzing the nervous system
f the insect as it walks over the =
ubstance. =
The home gardener should be
areful not to use some of these
INSTANCES on mature or almost !
plants of an edible nature.
void the use of DOT and arseni-
ais on near mature cabbage !
eads, cauliflower as too much !
oisonous residue may remain to )
lake the products safe for eating. I
yrethrum and rotenone contain )
lg insecticides should be used I
rincipally on such vegetables.
hey are safe, and there is little
from poisonous residues if J
sed properly. Rotenone and s
yIeIllTulH are IloIl POlSOIlOuS W 4
arm blooded animals when used s
the amounts needed in the gar Z
en-. )
Insecticides may be applied (
.ther as a dust or spray. Effec- )
veness of the insecticide will de-
end more on the thoroughness of )
,verage on the plant than on the :
ethod of application. Too heavy !
I application is wasteful and may s
: toxic to the plant. Apply the I
distance uniformly and thorough
and make sure the u~ndersides
the plant are sprayed and busted 5
o. (
To do a thorough job of insect
ntrol, one must be acquainted
it'll the life history and habits
the insect. Consult your county {
5ent for information about in !
cts you are not sure about. Know {
nat you are trying to control be- I
applying remedial measures. s