| fighting plant enemies. | | | | succumbs very quickly to the, corroding action of the |
| The devices and implements used for fighting plant | | | | strong poisons and chemicals used in them. |
| enemies are of two sorts: | | | | Of implements for harvesting, beside the spade, |
| (1) those used to afford mechanical protection to the | | | | prong-hoe and spading- fork, very few are used in the |
| plants; | | | | small garden, as most of them need not only long |
| (2) those used to apply insecticides and fungicides. | | | | rows to be economically used, but horse- power also. |
| Of the first the most useful is the covered frame. It | | | | The onion harvester attachment for the double wheel |
| consists usually of a wooden box, some eighteen | | | | hoe, may be used with advantage in loosening onions, |
| inches to two feet square and about eight high, | | | | beets, turnips, etc., from the soil or for cutting spinach. |
| covered with glass, protecting cloth, mosquito netting or | | | | Running the hand- plow close on either side of carrots, |
| mosquito wire. The first two coverings have, of | | | | parsnips and other deep-growing vegetables will aid |
| course, the additional advantage of retaining heat and | | | | materially in getting them out. For fruit picking, with tall |
| protecting from cold, making it possible by their use to | | | | trees, the wire-fingered fruit-picker, secured to the end |
| plant earlier than is otherwise safe. They are used | | | | of a long handle, will be of great assistance, but with |
| extensively in getting an extra early and safe start | | | | the modern method of using low-headed trees it will |
| with cucumbers, melons and the other vine vegetables. | | | | not be needed. |
| Simpler devices for protecting newly-set plants, such | | | | Another class of garden implements are those used in |
| as tomatoes or cabbage, from the cut-worm, are stiff, | | | | pruning but where this is attended to properly from the |
| tin, cardboard or tar paper collars, which are made | | | | start, a good sharp jack-knife and a pair of pruning |
| several inches high and large enough to be put around | | | | shears will easily handle all the work of the kind |
| the stem and penetrate an inch or so into the soil. | | | | necessary. |
| For applying poison powders, the home gardener | | | | Still another sort of garden device is that used for |
| should supply himself with a powder gun. If one must | | | | supporting the plants; such as stakes, trellises, wires, |
| be restricted to a single implement, however, it will be | | | | etc. Altogether too little attention usually is given these, |
| best to get one of the hand-power, compressed-air | | | | as with proper care in storing over winter they will not |
| sprayers. These are used for applying wet sprays, | | | | only last for years, but add greatly to the convenience |
| and should be supplied with one of the several forms | | | | of cultivation and to the neat appearance of the |
| of mist-making nozzles, the non-cloggable automatic | | | | garden. |
| type being the best. For more extensive work a barrel | | | | As a final word to the intending purchaser of garden |
| pump, mounted on wheels, will be desirable, but one of | | | | tools, I would say: first thoroughly investigate the |
| the above will do a great deal of work in little time. | | | | different sorts available, and when buying, do not |
| Extension rods for use in spraying trees and vines | | | | forget that a good tool or a well-made machine will be |
| may be obtained for either. For operations on a very | | | | giving you satisfactory use long, long after the price is |
| small scale a good hand-syringe may be used, but as | | | | forgotten, while a poor one is a constant source of |
| a general thing it will be best to invest a few dollars | | | | discomfort. Get good tools, and take good care of |
| more and get a small tank sprayer, as this throws a | | | | them. And let me repeat that a few dollars a year, |
| continuous stream or spray and holds a much larger | | | | judiciously spent, for tools afterward well cared for, will |
| amount of the spraying solution. Whatever type is | | | | soon give you a very complete set, and add to your |
| procured, get a brass machine it will out-wear three or | | | | garden profit and pleasure. |
| four of those made of cheaper metal, which | | | | |