146 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



the powdered steras and flowers of a composite plant, the 

 Pyrethrum Cinerariaefolium. This powder is now cheap 

 and entirely non-poisonous to the higher animals. It has 

 two objectionable features, it loses its virtue upon exposure, 

 and so the first article is the best. Again, it is not always 

 eflScient, as some insects are not destroyed by its use. The 

 California Buhack Co., Stockton, California, are engaged ex- 

 tensively in ttie growth and manufacture of this article, and 

 so we should expect they are not likely to send out a worth- 

 less article. I have used this Buhack with marked success, 

 as a powder and mixed with water. In water I use a table- 

 spoonful to the gallon of the liquid. 



Prof. Tracy and Mr. Alwood, of Ohio, both say they have 

 succeeded perfectly with the powders, but very indifferently 

 with the liquid mixture. My experience is quite the re- 

 verse. I have succeeded better by use of the liquid, only 

 as I think, because I applied it with a force pump, and the 

 application has been more thorough. I presume the reason 

 why our friends have failed, is that they have been too gen- 

 tle in making the application. We must remember that 

 the Buhack has to touch every msect, and so we must dash 

 it onto the plants, and not sprinkle it on in the gentle way 

 that it would fall from a sprinkler, would we do good exe- 

 cution. 



Pyrethrum is excellent to kill house flies, poultry vermin, 

 and even lice on cattle. 



For lice on cattle, etc., however, I prefer to wash the ani- 

 mals in a strong decoction of tobacco. And I have no hesi- 

 tation in saying that it is far more rational to kill these an- 

 noying lice by aid of tobacco poison, than to use the dirty 

 weed to kill off our boys. I can endure the foul stuff while 

 I am scrubbing a steer or heifer for a brief five minutes, but 

 to have the stench and filth ever about, pointing air, car, 

 audience room, and worst of all that blessed sanctuary, the 

 home dwelling, is surely asking quite too much. To treat 

 cattle place a half pound of the tobacco, the very cheapest 

 will do as well as any, in a pail, and turn on to it a gallon 

 of hot water. As soon as it is cold enough, so that we can 

 wring out clothes in it with the bare hand, the animal is to 



