464 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Second. — A decoction of tobacco is simple, inexpensive, and if properly- 

 applied, an effectual remedy for every class of insect pests that I have come 

 in contact with. Forty pounds of good strong leaf tobacco, thoroughly 

 boiled in water, will make about eighty gallons. This can be thrown upon 

 the trees with a garden syringe, but it is necessary that the decoction should 

 be kept, while using it, at the uniform temperature of 130°. Hotter than 

 this will destroy the embryo fruit; less hot, less effectual. I would recom- 

 mend four applications each year, until the orchards were entirely free from 

 insects. Then, if the neighborhood was free, and proper precautions taken, 

 with pruning alone, could be kept free for generations to come. Every 

 orchardist must grow his own tobacco, which he can do in a small way, if 

 he attends to it properly, at a cost of 2 cents the pound — one acre will pro- 

 duce four thousand pounds. We have, therefore, allowing two gallons of 

 the decoction to a tree for each application, the following cost: one pound 

 of tobacco, 2 cents. Two men can boil the tobacco and syringe one hun- 

 dred trees daily — $1 25 for each man, and board, would be $2 50 — or 2-| 

 cents the tree, which, with the cost of tobacco (2 cents) equals per tree A\ 

 cents — four times each year, 18 cents. On olive trees producing fifty gal- 

 lons of berries (valued at 4 cents the pound), the whole cost of thorough 

 cleaning would be less than 2^ per cent of each yearly crop. On orange, 

 lemon, and lime trees, about the same. 



Third. — Phenyle. With this remedy my personal knowledge is limited; 

 but from the experiments made by others, I am satisfied it has very valua- 

 ble properties, and do not hesitate to recommend it. It costs $1 50 per gal- 

 lon — can be diluted with fifty parts of water to one part of phenyle, making 

 the cost of the dilution for a tree wash only 3 cents each gallon. 



Fourth. — Pyroligneous acid is probably more effectual than any other 

 known remedy, but the present cost of 75 cents the gallon makes it too 

 expensive for common use in syringing trees. It is my opinion that it can 

 be manufactured for 10 cents the gallon, perhaps less, then diluted one 

 half with water, would make the admixture cost 5 cents the gallon. The 

 labor in applying either, in swabbing or syringing trees, is much less than 

 with tobacco, as it does not require to be heated. The most important 

 properties that any remedy can possess, provided that it has about the 

 same insect destroying power, is that it should not be disagreeable to 

 handle, no unsafety in keeping it in any place, and that it should not 

 require to be heated to be effectual. If it is dangerous in itself, the 

 orchardist will always be in dread; if it requires heating to a certain 

 number of degrees, the many little necessary preparations will afford 

 ample excuses for delays, or if it is exceedingly disagreeable to handle, 

 the putting-off plan will always be resorted to, until dire necessity compels 

 its use. This remedy is not disagreeable to handle, and can always be 

 kept at hand and ready for use. It, therefore, recommends itself for uni- 

 versal application. 



To sum up, it is my conviction, based upon the results of my experi- 

 ments, that there is no excuse for not keeping olive trees free from scale 

 insects. In fact, it is great economy to do so. It is a source from which 

 to derive an income on the one hand, and total worthlessness on the 

 other. Those who neglect this important duty, either from indifference or 

 the want of knowledge, will expend their money only to see it melt away 

 before them, and will have for their reward unsuccess, discouragement, and 

 despair. 



The following extract is from Mr. Cooper's address before the Horticult- 

 ural Society, as reported in their biennial report for 1885 and 1886: 



