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By this time in the year the
patient gardener is prepared—or he should be— for anything in the nature of
pests. This month's particular unpleasantness may take the form of Cabbage
Aphis on the members of the cabbage family. It is easy enough to recognize.
Leaves begin to curl or crinkle ; part of the leaf turns a paler green, and
on the underside of the crinkled leaf is a mass of greyish-blue,
powdery-looking insects busily sucking the vitality out of your plants and
crippling them.
If these pests find their way into growing hearts of
your young kales, sprouts or other green stuff, they may check the plants so
badly that the crop will be very poor. You will probably find too that the
Aphis has discovered your seedling rows of greenstuff.
The best remedy is to spray with a good nicotine
insecticide, preferably one that contains soap or some other substance that
acts as a "spreader" and keeps the nicotine on the leaves. |
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Force the spray well into the hearts of the plants. Where
there are large colonies, it is worth while squashing the insects with
finger and thumb before spraying—if you can "take it." It is a messy
business, but half measures are no good. Later sprayings at intervals of a
few days will probably be necessary. The secret of control is to spray,
early enough and often enough.
WARNING
Nicotine and nicotine preparations are poisonous. Be
sure to follow maker's directions. On Summer Cabbage almost ready for
cutting, or other vegetables intended for the table within ten days, use a
derris spray instead.
[ed. note: nicotine may harm tomato plants.
Alternative pest control is encouraged.]
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