The HOME GARDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 5

The HOME GARDEN

■••• By Sandy •••

Vegetables are unfortunately subject to all manner of reverses due to the attentions of many types of injurious insects and fungi. The grower has constantly to be watchful because it is comparatively easy to check an infestation or an attack before it becomes really bad, whereas it is usually difficult to do so when the pest or fungus has a really good hold. With the care of vegetables prevention is better than cure every time. It is generally realised that potatoes and tomatoes should be sprayed during their growth to safeguard them, but how often is this principle applied to other crops? For convenience of reference the more usual vegetables are here listed, together with their common foes and the remedies recommended.

Beans. —Bean aphis or dolphin fly, known as the "collier," "black fly," and "black army." This pest particularly troublesome on broad beans,} infesting firstly the growing points. These lice not only seriously damage the tissues of the shoots, but also cover them later with a film of honeydew, which with the cast-off skins of the lice renders the leaves filthy and unable to carry out their proper functions. Firstly a point should be made of destroying all docks and thistles in the garden to prevent egg laying in the autumn. The soft ends of the shoots should be nipped off directly the plants begin to flower, and they make an excellent substitute for spinach. Should the plants become infested spray with paraffin emulsion or other non-poisonous insecticide.

Beet—"Beet rust." The foliage of both silver and red beet is sometimes badly attacked by a rusty mould which seriously cripples the growth of the plants. When only a stray leaf here and there is attacked pick it off and burn it. When red beet is lifted all infected leaves should be burnt, not left on the ground to rot, otherwise the fungus will reappear the next season. Following an attack beet should not be grown on the same ground for several years. Much can be done in the right direction by applying a complete manure to the ground, making sure of the potash content,' and so invigorate the plants to the point when they will resist the disease.

Cabbage.—"Cabbage aphis." This pest is a relative of the common greenfly, and attacks the undersides of the' folds of tho leaves of cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, swedes— in fact, all members of the cabbage tribe. The aphides are grey and mealy in appearance, and ai'e prevalent in summer, particularly in dry seasons. Control is effected by spraying with a reliable contact insecticide.

"Cabbage white butterflies." The caterpillars of these butterflies are very destructive to e;:ibbu£>e and allied vegetables, and are ton well known to need description. Giving t-.e plants a good drenching with water through a hose occasionally will help to keep there clean. Du.=tir>£? with ground lime is pUo helpful. biH the most definite control is obtained by using a derris preparation, either in powder or dust

- VEGETABLE PESTS AND DISEASES

form. Arsenate of lead is good, but can only be used with safety, on account of its poisonous nature, when the plants are young.

Carrot.—The carrot is prone to attacks by a sap-sucking insect and must be sprayed regularly with nicotine sulphate. The foliage ihows signs of bronzing and in bad cases where no control has been applied will shrivel and dry up all together, causing the crop to be a complete failure. Commence spraying as soon as thinning is completed. Usually three applications of spray will be sufficient.

Celery.—"Celery leaf blight." A fungoid disease which attacks the foliage of celery in wet seasons, causing pale spots to form. The infected leaves eventually turn to a greenish brown colour and either wither or become rotten. Do not throw diseased plants on the rubbish heap or into flic compost heap; burn badly-infected ones. Control of the trouble can be obtained by spraying with Bordeaux mixture.

Onion.—-"Onion mildew." A fungus which frequently does serious damage to the onion crop. It occurs in the form of a mould on the leaves. At first its presence may be detected by yellowish patches, followed later by a white, and then a greyish lilac mould. The disease causes the leaves to shrivel and the growth of the bulb to be stunted. Spray at first sign of the trouble with colloidal sulphur.

Potato.—"Blight." This is one of the commonest disease attacking potatoes. It is more prevalent in wet than in dry seasons, and not only destroys the foliage rapidly, but also attacks the tubers and causes them to rot. The disease appears first in the form of dark spots on the leaves, and they gradually increase in size and spread over the whole of the haulm, causing it to turn brown and die. The best remedy is the preventive one of spraying the foliage at regular intervals of a fortnight or so with Bordeaux mixture,

Tomato,—The tomato is subject to fungus blights similar to those attacking the potato, and preventive treatment by spraying with Bordeaux mixture is rorornmpndod.