New Use for Old Tomato-Cans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1911

New Use for Old Tomato-Cans

Do not throw away your old tomato-cans, if you have either a vegetable or a flower garden. Place them over the young plants that are just coming up, either seedlings or cuttings, and they will keep off all insects and worms until the plants are strong enough to withstand their attacks; for, try as they may, the bugs can not hop as high as the tops of the cans.

The bottoms of the cans must first be knocked out. This is easily done with one blow of the hammer if the cans are previously placed upon the cook-stove and allowed to get very hot. If you do not care to try this plan, cut out the bottoms as you did the tops, with a can-opener.

I have tried this simple method for the past two years with perfect success. My only regret is that I did not know earlier how much labor in spraying, etc. is saved by the use of these protectors in gardening. They also serve to keep the young plants moist, and shelter them from the scorching heat.—Selected.