Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1913 — INSECTS IN THE WINDOW GARDEN [ARTICLE]

INSECTS IN THE WINDOW GARDEN

Warfare Against Plant Enemies Must Be Made for Ex- ' termination Look out for the Insects in the window garden. If any are found —as quite likely there will be —wage prompt and aggressive warfare against them. Probably the aphis will show up most prominently. I used to dread this pest more than all-others, because gs the rapidity with which he breeds. Now I" find it an easy matter to keep him under control. I do this by the use of the extract of tobacco. This extract is very strong and a little of it goes a good ways. A pint of it coßts about $1.50, but it will last the owner of a good-sized window garden for years, because a spoonful of it will be sufficient for a ton-quart can of water, and this will be enough to spray forty or fifty plants thoroughly. It is sure death to every aphide it comes in contact with. It is much cheaper, in the long run, than tobacco for fumigation, and is much pleasanter to nse, as it gives off but little odor, and this is soon dissipated, while tobacco smoke leaves its stale stench behind it for days, and clings to everything in the house. Every owner of a window garden should provide herself with a good sprayer. The small bulb atomizers, operated by squeezing, are of little practical use. Better invest your money In such a sprayer as the small gardener uses, in which the atomizer and reservoir are connected in such a manner as to make a compact little implement, very easy to operate, and capable of throw, ing a small stream or spray of any d* gree of fineness as you may elect. With a sprayer of this kind it Is an easy matter to give your plants a treatment once a week, and that ought to be enough to keep them free from aphides. In our overheated, dry-atmosphered living rooms the red' spider is sure to do more or less damage unless something is done to keep it in check. None of the emulsions, tobacco extracts or other applications advised for use in fighting plant enemies are of any nse here. ' A correspondent asks if good plants can be grown in tin cans. Certainly, i have seen very'fine plants in them.

The fact Is it isn't so much the vessel that the plant grows in as it 1b the care It gets that countß. If cans are used, punch holes in the bottom for water to run off through. 1 would pre. fer pots, because they look better and are better for general use, but those who cannot afford them will find that they can grow plants, and grow them well, in boxes, cans or an old earthen teapot or pitcher, provided drainage is arranged for. That’s the important thing. Don’t discard the good old standbys for “novelties” in making a selection of new plants for your window garden. They tell us geraniums are “common.” Granted; but a window bright with the blossoms of these “common" flowerß is a thing to delight in in the midwinter, while the window in which “novelties” abound nine times out of ten if conspicuous for it* absence of bloom more than anything else. A brave show of “common" flowers is a great deal more satisfactory than no flowers at all. Who carea how “common” a flower is if it i* beautiful? „