43G STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



For syringiug trees, shrubs, flower beds, and house plants, I know of nothing 

 comparable to Whitman's fountain pump. This little engine is so easily 

 worked that a child can use it, and yet will throw a stream twenty or thirty 

 feet higli. The Johnston pump throws water faster than Whitman's, though 

 not quite so far. This is a fine engine, and sells for $8.00. The Whitman 

 fountain pump will not work well if pointed much below the horizontal, hence 

 is not useful in sprinkling potato vines. It retails at $7.50. I^ewis' syringe 

 is an improved squirt gun of the kind made and used by children to amuse 

 themselves. Replace the small alder tube with one of tin or brass, that holds 

 three or four quarts, and the cloth wound piston by one of rubber, and you 

 have it. It costs but a dollar and works well. In case of field potatoes, Ruggle's 

 exterminator is probably the best. With this machine an acre can be sprinkled 

 in hour. It consists of a large tank which holds the liquid. This, when in 

 use is strapped on to the back of the person using it. An agitator which 

 works inside the can keeps the mixture well stirred. This is moved by a strap 

 which is fastened to the operator's arm. From either side of the bottom of 

 the can, pass two rubber hose, each terminating with a fine rose. These are 

 held, one in either hand, so that two rows are sprinkled at once. By raising 

 or pressing the hose the flow is stopped. The only objection I found to the use 

 of this was on the score of economy; though if the vines were close together 

 in one direction, this would be small. For sprinkling large potato vines of 

 field potatoes, this is the best instrument 1 have seen. It retails at $0.50. 



TRAl'PIXG NOXIOUS INSECTS. 



Many insects if disturbed will fall to the earth. Therefore if we jar the 

 trees or bushes which lodge the pests, after placing a sheet underneath, we may 

 easily catch and destroy them. By this means the plum curculio can be 

 cheaply destroyed, and one of our most valued fruits saved from almost cer- 

 tain destruction. The grape curculio, the blister beetles and the rose chafer, 

 can all be caught in like way. In large plum orchards it pays to have the 

 sheet stretched on to a frame in the form of an inverted umbrella, and carried 

 by a wheelbarrow or cart. A slit permits this to pass immediately under the 

 tree. The jar must be sharp, and to prevent injury to the trees or limbs, 

 spikes should be driven in, and these, not the trees, should be struck with the 

 mallet. 



Some insects are wont to hide uiider boards, chips or rubbish. The plum 

 curculio, early in the season, and the squash bugs and cut-worms are examples. 

 Hence, if chips be placed under plum trees in May and June, they will be ap- 

 priated for shelter and protection during the day, as the insects are nocturnal, 

 and when thus hid the curculio may be easily gathered and destroyed. Neglect 

 to gather them in before four o'clock in the afternoon makes the experiment 

 only partially successful, as some may have gone to the tree to be on hand for 

 I he night's banquet. 



Squash bugs arc also nocturnal, and may be ca])turcd by placing old boards 

 or wilted leaves on the ground among tlie vines. The similar habits of the 

 cut worms suggests a similar trap. In this case some fresh mown grass is ber- 

 ter for a trap. This placed in a cleanly kept garden a few evenings in succes- 

 sion before setting the plants will attract the marauders in quest of the growing 

 plants. The next day the grass may be removed and the caterpillars crushed. 

 The successful practice of any of the above methods makes perfectly clean 

 culture imperative in orchard and garden. 



