Fighting Plant Enemies

Some devices and implements used for fighting plant enemies they are:

1. Some Persons used to afford mechanical protection to the plants.
2. Some Persons used to apply fungicides and insecticides.

Mechanical protection for the Plants

The first one device is most useful in the roofed frame. It consists usually of a wooden box, some eighteen inches to two feet square and about eight high, covered with protecting cloth, covered with glass, mosquito wire or mosquito netting. The first two coverings have, of course, the extra advantage of retaining heat and protecting from cold, making it possible by their use to plant earlier than is otherwise safe. They are used extensively in getting an extra early and safe start with melons, cucumbers and the other vine vegetables.

Related other devices also protecting newly-set plants, such as cabbage or tomatoes, from the cut-worm, are can, rigid, cardboard or tar paper collars, which are made several inches high and large enough to be put around the stem and penetrate an inch or so into the soil.

The home gardener should supply himself with a powder gun, for applying poison powders. This is be restricted to a single implement, however, it will be best to get one of the compressed-air sprayers, hand-power. These are used for applying wet sprays, and should be supplied with one of the several forms of mist-making nozzles, the non-clog gable automatic type being the best. For more widespread work a barrel pump, mounted on wheels, will be desirable, but one of the above will do a great deal of work in little time. Extension rods for use in spraying vines and trees may be obtained. For operations on a very small scale a good hand-syringe may be used, but as a general thing it will be best to invest a few dollars more and get a small tank sprayer, as this throws a continuous stream or spray and holds a much larger amount of the spraying solution. Whatever type is procured, get a brass machine it will out-wear three or four of those made of cheaper metal, which submits very quickly to the corroding action of the strong poisons and chemicals used in them.

Garden implements for Harvesting

Another class of garden implements for harvesting, beside the spade, spading- fork and prong-hoe, very few are used in the small garden, as most of them need not only long rows to be economically used, but horse- power also. The onion harvester attachment for the double wheel hoe may be used with advantage in loosening onions, turnips, beets, etc., from the soil or for cutting spinach. Running the hand- plow close on either side of carrots, parsnips and other deep-growing vegetables will aid materially in getting them out. For fruit picking, with tall trees, the wire-fingered fruit-picker, secured to the end of a long handle, will be of great assistance, but with the modern method of using low-headed trees it will not be needed.

Fungicides and insecticides are applies for Plants

Another class of garden implements are those used in pruning but where this is attended to properly from the start, a good sharp jack-knife and a pair of pruning shears will easily handle all the work of the kind necessary.

Still another sort of garden device is that used for supporting the plants; such as wires, trellises, stakes, etc. Altogether too little attention usually is given these, as with proper care in storing over winter they will not only last for years, but add greatly to the expediency of farming and to the neat appearance of the garden.

The final conclusion is to the intending purchaser of garden tools. First thoroughly examine the different sorts available, and when buying, do not remember that a good tool or a well-made machine will be giving you acceptable use long, long after the price is beyond, even as poor one is a constant source of discomfort. And allow me repeat that a few dollars a year, sensibly spent, for tools afterward well cared for, will soon give you a very complete set, and add to your garden profit and enjoyment. Get good tools, and take good care of them.