HOME GARDEN.

What about the farm and home garden for 1916?  Is the garden to receive the undivided attention of one or more members of each family, so that all members and guests may share its fruits?  Let’s make the home garden the best spot on every Minnesota farm in 1916.  A conservative estimate of the actual value of the products from a half-acre garden is fifty dollars.  In Minnesota there are over 150,000 farms.  This would mean a total value of over $7,000,000.  This does not include the value of the products of the village and city gardens.  Careful estimates made in this state show that it costs about fifteen dollars for man and horse labor to take care of a garden of about three-fourths of an acre.  Now for a BIG GARDEN MOVEMENT this year—­for all the year.  Not a big beginning kept up until the little weeds become big weeds.  Is anyone going to allow weeds to outdo him?

NOTES ON PLANT PESTS.

Prepared by Section of Insect Pests, A. G. RUGGLES, and by Section of Plant Diseases, E. C. STAKMAN, University Farm.

Buy spray materials as soon as possible.  The orchardist will probably notice very little difference in the price of his spraying materials, like arsenate of lead and lime-sulphur, as compared with last year; but those who still think that Paris green is the only good stomach insecticide, will be astounded by this year’s price.  At the present time, in one pound lots, the retailer cannot sell Paris green for less than 50c per pound—­over twice what it was last year.  In large quantities, it is doubtful if it can be purchased for less than 45c per pound.  Fortunately arsenate of lead, a better stomach insecticide than Paris green, has not advanced materially in price, the powdered form being obtained for about 25c per pound.  One and one-half pounds of this powder is used in fifty gallons of spray mixture.  In our experiments, we have found arsenate of lead superior to Paris green as a remedy for potato bugs and all orchard insects.  It is not necessary, therefore, to allow any injurious biting insect to live simply because Paris green is high in price.  Arsenate of lead, if properly applied at the right time, will keep any of these insects in check.

A dormant wash does little good in controlling scab.  Hence, on account of the high price of spraying compounds, do not spray when unnecessary.

Many diseases of nursery stock are controlled by spraying.  Begin spraying as soon as leaf buds unfold, with lime-sulphur 1-40 or Bordeaux mixture 4-4-50.

Copper-sulphate has also advanced 15c or 16c per pound.  Lime-sulphur has not advanced materially; therefore, plan to use lime-sulphur or some of the made-up (paste) Bordeaux instead of Bordeaux mixture, whenever possible. Potatoes can not be sprayed with lime-sulphur.

The aphis problem is usually a very serious one, because they are such persistent little breeders.  The trees or shrubs most affected are roses, snowball, currant, apple, plum and elm.  The eggs of the plant lice pass the winter on the bark or buds of these plants and hatch as the buds begin to swell.  Spray with the lime-sulphur (1-9) at this time.  As soon as the leaves appear, spray with nicotine-sulphate as per directions on the container.