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272 The Basic Rook of Organic Gardening

usually Kill the enemies of mites and spiders but do not kill
mites themselves, Pyrethrum iy a safe dust-type control and
cun be used both indoors aod out,

2]. Mosquito ~

Mosquitoes may be controlled by draining stagnant bodies
of water or by floating on them acthia film of off) While
this may be somewhat injurious to vegentom—-it-is not ay
dangerous as YD or other poisons, Often rain barrels and
other containers with water become mosquito breeding places,
Eliminate those from the home ground, Perhaps the best
‘control in your immediate area is to eacourage birds like the
purple martin, just one of which will eat 2,060 mosquitoes
a day. ‘The praying mantis is also a natural enemy. Agri-
cultural experiment stations have had some success with
using a garlic spray,

22, Nematode

The consistent use of compost will virtually eliminate ne
matodes. Avoid chemicals fo exterminate them, as that will
interfere with the proper functioning of beneficial soil organ.
isms which tend to keep out all daagerous micrabes and
Nematodes, Organic fertilization of infected plants induces
the formation of roots and improves pliant vigor, thus negat.
ing the harmful effects of nematodes fecding on Ue roots,
The most practical answer to the nematode problem for the
average gardener is to build up the humus content ot the
soll and to interplaat with marigolds, especially the Freach or
African varieties,

93, Peach Borer

Protect peach trees by keeping the ground beneath them
perfectly clean of grass, weeds, and mulch for at least a foot
in all directions to discourage rodents and other animal pests,
This also enables birds to get to the young borers, Swab cach

Minh etre nit tal Ree Las Patt

Protection Against The Bugs

273

one of your peach trees with tanglefoot (a commercially avail-
able sticky substance) before planting The substance will
catch the moths or the worms so that they cannot penetrate
the material or get into the bark, Planting garlic cloves close
to the tree trunk has been found effective against the borer
as has the trichogramma,

24. Root Maggot

Repel root maggots by applications of large quantities of
unleeched wood ashey or a mulch of oak leaves if available.
He sure to locate your growing area away from members of
the cabbage family for at least 3 years Maggots are partic-
ularly attracted to radishes, and some gardeners plant them
es a trap crop to be discarded later, If infestation ix heavy,
test the soil and feed it, Then grow a cover crop to be turned
under,

25. Scale

Rest control is to spray infected trees early in the spring
with a dormant oil emulsion spray Ladybugs; available com-
mercially, feast on scale insects and usually keep these “pests
under control,

26, Slug and Snail -

Snails and slugs tend to be nocturnal, Take advantage of
their nighttime habits by placing shingles, planks, boards, oc
other similar material in the garden to serve as ‘teaps, ach
morning destroy those which have hidden away there for the
day, The bodies of snails and slugs are soft and highly sen-
sitive to sharp objecty such as sand and soil, and dry, slightly
corrosive substances ag slaked lime and wood ashes, A nar-
tow strip of sharp sand or cinders around a bed or border
will serve as an elfective barrier against them as will a sprin-
Ming of slaked lime or wood ashes, Many gardeners have

Seen t cde td AERC OPUS