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HOW CAN PESTS BE CONTROLLED?
Pests may be considered as groups, among which are insects, rodents, and
diseases. Foremost among control methods are good garden care and
neatness about the premises, including the elimination of rubbish, weed
and brush patches, and other places where pests may be harbored. Next in
order may be placed those practices which favor rapid, vigorous growth
of vegetables, such as timely planting and cultivation, fertilization,
and choice of vigorous varieties.
Rotation of crops, or planting vegetables of different kinds, and, as far
as possible, of different plant families, in succession, is another
valuable part of pest control.
Certain insects, however, may be troublesome regardless of measures such
as those just named. Hand-picking of adult insects such as potato
beetles, bean and asparagus beetles, squash bugs, and the like, and
crushing of egg masses found on the under side of leaves are practicable
methods in small gardens.
Other insect pests require the application, in sprays or dusts, of the
proper insecticides. Instructions on choice of materials and time of
application may be obtained from the County Agent or through Victory
Garden Committees.
In small gardens, practical disease control consists mainly in planting
of disease-free seeds and plants to be obtained from reliable dealers,
in control of weeds and insects, in timely planting and cultivation, and
in proper drainage. Most of the varieties and kinds of vegetables
recommended for small gardens may be grown successfully without further
measures than those already stated.
Rodents present special problems, which must be met by group or community
action on the part of gardeners. RABBIT CONTROL
Among the pests which the home gardener finds specially trying are
cottontail rabbits. They are more troublesome to home gardeners than to
commercial growers, chiefly because most suburbs of cities have
ordinances forbidding residents to shoot them, but partly because, on
open farm lands, foods other than vegetables may tempt them.
Control measures include trapping in box traps and transporting into
localities where they may be desired for game. Game wardens will assist
both in trapping and relocating the cottontails.
Another control measure is the sprinkling of repellents on the soil about
the plants. Among the most effective repellents are dried blood and
naphthalene balls or flakes. Several materials have been suggested as
sprays, among them nicotine extracts, Lysol, and magnesium sulphate. |
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click for larger photo
Victory Gardens
Handbook of the
Victory Garden Committee
War Services, Pennsylvania
State Council of Defense
April, 1944
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page v
page vi
page vii
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