136 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



the poison down wliere it may lodge at the base of the leaves and await oppor- 

 tunity to do its fatal work. 



By use of the fountain pump and a long rubber tube attached to an equally 

 long, light stick, which shall connect the pump with the cyclone nozzle, we can 

 spray trees that are many feet in height, and this with great economy of the 

 poison. 



BUHACH, OR CALIFORNIA PYRETHRUM. 



I next call your attention to Buhach, or California Pyrethrum. This 

 valuable insecticide consists of the powdered flowers, stems and leaves of a 

 plant closely related to our common chrysanthemum. The plant used in Cali- 

 fornia is P. cinerarce foJiiim, though that from P. roseum, and P. carneum is 

 also effective. The dry powder, an alcoholic extract, a simple water solution, 

 or a decoction even of the unground plants as well as of the powder, can all be 

 used. The solution in cold water I have found efficient, and it is certainly 

 most convenient to use of any form except in the powdered state. And I have 

 found it more effective in field operations than is the powder, probably because 

 it is more scattered as it is sent on in a spray with a force pump, and so strikes 

 more of the insects. This substance kills by contact, not by being eaten. 

 Another peculiarity of this powder is that the essential principle is volatile, and 

 so unless the Buhach is kejDt in a close, tight box or jar, it soon becomes worth- 

 less. It is best to keep it in tin boxes or in fruit jars. We see then that old 

 powder is very likely to become valueless, especially if left in drawers or open 

 boxes, as is often the case in drug stores. 



The advantages of this insecticide are these: It is entirely non-poisonous 

 to the higher animals. Thus there is no possible danger of its use, even in the 

 hands of the careless. Again, it kills by contact and not by being eaten, and 

 so may be used with success in destroying insects where the nature of the case 

 precludes the possibility of the getting the insects to eat it. Thus we use it to 

 kill house flies, poultry lice and other vermin that attack and injure our domes- 

 tic animals, and also with success to destroy the plant lice which are often so 

 vexatious on house plants. 



The objections to this insecticide are, first : its decline in value from age. 

 Thus it is that so many try it and pronounce it worthless. They used a worth- 

 less article. Again, it is powerless to effect any injury on many of our worst 

 insect pests. 



Thus I have found it wholly useless to defend against our destructive bugs 

 and most beetles. Mr. E. S. Carman says it destroys the rose chafer, which 

 if true is not only exceptional, but very important, as that is one of our most 

 destructive insects. Again, this substance must actually come in contact with 

 the insect, while the arsenites have but to strike the leaves that are to be eaten. 

 As this soon loses its virtue, unless it actually strikes the insect, it seldom 

 proves effective, hence insects beneath leaves are liable to escape unharmed. 

 This is why the watery spray is more apt to succeed than is the dry powder. I 

 find we can distribute the spray with a force pump more thoroughly than we 

 can the powder, even with the excellent dust-bellows which are now m the 

 market. 



The justly dreaded cabbage caterpillar, that green larva that early riddles the 

 leaves, and later tunnels the cabbages through and through until the carving knife 

 slices it with the savory vegetable, to the horror of the cook, is easily and safely 

 put hors de combat by use of this excellent Buhach. I find that it serves best 

 when applied as a watery spray by use of the Woodason Spray Bellows. This 



