252 Bulletin 144. 



apple-tree tent-caterpillar are familiar examples, eat parts of the plant 

 — usually the leaves. The remedy for such pests is to apply a poison 

 to their feeding ground. Paris green is the poison most commonly 

 used in such cases. 



The other class of insects comprises those which suck the juices of 

 the plant. The aphides or plant lice, which have been so abundant 

 the past season on the growing shoots of apple, plum and cherry-trees 

 represent this type; the scale insects, as the San Jose scale, also belong 

 here. A moment's thought will make it plain that Paris green could 

 in no wise injure an enemy of this sort since it does not get the poison 

 with its food. This type of insect must be destroyed by applying 

 something which will kill it by coming in contact with it. Kerosene, 

 usually as an emulsion, is the remedy in most common use. It must 

 be remembered, however, that this will destroy only those insects with 

 which it comes in contact. This, perhaps, will explain at least one of 

 the reasons why t/ioroughfiess is so essential to success. While kero- 

 sene emulsion has been very generally recommended for insects of this 

 type, with the advent of certain pumps which have recently been per- 

 fected, this may not be the best way of applying it ; with these pumps 

 the kerosene may be so mixed and diluted with water as it is forced 

 through the pump and out of the nozzle that no emulsion is necessary. 



It seems almost a waste of time to say that Bordeaux mixture is the 

 great specific for fungous diseases, and that it is not for destroying 

 insects, yet recent experience convinces us that such a statement may 

 well be made with considerable emphasis.* 



* Very often in the springtime persons come to us with this or a similar 

 remark : ' ' My rosebushes are all covered with little white insects. What can I 

 do for them ?" We usually say, " Spray them with kerosene emulsion," for 

 that is about the best thing in common use, yet it is somewhat difficult to 

 make, and the chances are that persons who ask for this information, 

 rather than bother with making the emulsion, simply look on while the 

 insects continue to eat up their rosebushes and other ornamentals. During 

 the past season we have had various insecticides and fungicides under obser- 

 vation. Among them was one called " Fir-tree Oil Soap," another " Kill-m- 

 rij^ht," both of which have given excellent satisfaction in combating aphis, 

 rose-leaf hopper and other soft-bodied insect pests common to the front 3'ard 

 and .ijarden. Each of these is a salve-like material conveniently put up in 

 small tin cans, and they are made ready for use simply by dissolving in a 

 little hot water and then diluting to the desired strength. About one ounce 

 to a gallon of water seems sufficient for destroying aphis and other soft- 

 bodied insects. 



