308 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ounce of carbolic acid, according as it is desired to have it mild or 

 strong ; and the quality, both of the soap and of the carbolic acid, 

 may be varied in proportion as the product is desired to be nice 

 and delicate, or cheap and less agreeable. When cool the soap may 

 be cut into cakes and laid by for use, and will keep any length of 

 time. If my own experience is any indication of what will occur 

 with others, occasions to use it will grow more frequent as its fit- 

 ness for very many uses becomes known. Prepared as stated above 

 it has been found greatly preferable to what is sold in the shops as 

 carbolic soap, unless we except an article sold at a high price for 

 toilet purposes. 



There is little doubt that it may be beneficially employed for 

 ridding plants of insects and for both the destruction and preven- 

 tion of those microscopic fungi which so frequently injure plants 

 by producing rust, mildew, blight, and kindred diseases. It is 

 asserted that when introduced into the soil, insects, worms, and 

 larvaa disappear. Experiments are wanting fully to determine its 

 measure of efiiciency in this respect.* 



*An '• Insect Exterminator and Fertilizer" is latterly puffed and extensively advertised 

 claiming great efficacy by virtue of containing Carbolic Acid, and to be patented for the 

 purpose. Its appearance gives the impression that it is a mixture of coal tar with gas 

 lime (the latter being a complex refuse product of the manufacture of gas), and the 

 analysis as stated in the pamphlets accompanying it corroborate this impression. If so, 

 any farmer may mix them for a small fraction of the price charged for the " Extermina- 

 tor and Fertilizer." Coal tar and gas lime, separately and together, have long been em- 

 ployed for similar uses, sometimes with success, sometimes with injury. That such a 

 mixture would annoy insects is very probable if not certain, that it would contain a little 

 carbolic acid is evident enough, that it would exhibit fertilizing effects is improbable. 



