DISEASES AND PESTS.
Vegetables grow in fertile, well drained and well-cultivated gardens seldom suffer greatly from pests and diseases. The modern gardener accepts that all wildlife has a right to live. It is only when things get out of hand that any living creature causing damage to garden plants can rated as a pest. It is up to the gardener to use his superior intelligence to outwit possibly harmful small creatures instead of polluting the environment surrounding his home. The labels of packaged pesticides should be read carefully. If the contents are dangerous to you, your children and your family pets consider carefully before you buy such substances. Always lock dangerous pesticides quite safely away from children. Do not mix dangerous pesticides with water and don’t store them in lemonade or other drinks, your child may drink the stuff and be poisoned.
The commonly recommended insecticide nicotine, for example, is a poison. As for chemical weed killers the long-term effect of some modern kinds is as yet unknown. The older weed killer, sodium chlorate, is liable to explode; it also runs in the soil and may kill plants in your neighbor’s gardens. Many sprays and powders contain derris or pyrethrum. These are natural insecticides prepared from plants. They are harmless to all warm-blooded creatures but derris can kill fish. If you use derris pesticides, keep sprays and dusts away from your garden pool.
Aphids (greenfly, mealy aphis, black fly) vegetables: all. Damage: they are sapsuckers. Plants are weakened; leaves die and flower buds may be ruined. Control: allow plants sufficient space and do not grow vegetables in shade. Water well and often in dry, summer weather. Keep down weeds, encourage ladybirds. Spray with derris or pyrethrum. These are natural insecticides prepared from plants. They are harmless to all warm-blooded creatures but derris can kill fish.
If you use derris pesticides, keep sprays and dusts away from your garden pool. Encourage natural predators like the hedgehog, toad, frog, ladybird, wasps in (spring but not in summer) and lacewing flies. Learn to distinguish between the helpful centipede, the less helpful millepede and the unpleasant wireworm. Most moths, butterflies and their caterpillars are on your side. The caterpillars of cabbage white butterflies and of the cabbage moth are not! Careful attention at all times to garden hygiene will do much to keep disease to a minimum. Indeed, one cannot ‘cure’ plant diseases and prevention must always be the policy. Always cut out any dead branches or shoots as soon as you notice them and burn them. Also burn ant-rooting fruits.
