598 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REMEDIES. 



The drawback in fighting these insects arises from the difficulty of 

 applying remedies in the inaccessible places that they inhabit. In places 

 where shade-trees are affected, it is usually possible to apply sprays. 

 The larvse readily succumb to a spray of Paris-green or kerosene-emulsion. 

 While the former is cheaper, the latter is preferable where for any reason 

 it is unsafe to apply poisons. The great height of pine-trees often makes 

 it impossible to reach the top with a spray; in such cases hellebore should 

 be applied. Mix one part of white hellebore with three parts of flour 

 and tie up a pound or so in a piece of coarse cheese-cloth or in four or 

 five thicknesses of mosquito-netting. This should be tied to a long pole 

 and taken up into the tree on a still day. By going above the infested 

 part and beating the pole with another stick the powder will be sifted 

 out and will settle on the worms. It is best to do this on a quiet morn- 

 ing when the dew is on the trees. The hellebore will act in two ways, 

 some will stick to the moist bodies of the worms and some will settle on 

 the leaves and be eaten, in either case the worm will be destroyed. If a 

 dust-gun is to be had, this may be used more quickly and effectively, but 

 in most cases the injury is well advanced before it is noticed, and if the 

 trees are to be protected there is no time to procure such apparatus. In 

 November all the fallen needles and debris should be raked from beneath 

 the affected trees for some distance around, and burned to destroy the 

 cocoons. 



FORMULAS AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF INSECTICIDES. 



To be of much service, spraying must be thoroughly done. A conscien- 

 tious and thorough spraying will wet every part of every limb, twig and 

 leaf on both sides. To accomplish this result cheaply and surely, a spray 

 as fine and mist-like as possible must be used. When a poor nozzle is 

 used, one that projects a coarse spray composed of distinct drops of 

 liquid, much is sure to fall to the ground and be lost. Good nozzles save 

 enough insecticide to pay for themselves in a short time. When contact 

 insecticides, such as kerosene-emulsion or whale-oil soap, are used, each 

 insect must be fairly hit with the liquid to be killed. 



Insects that chew or bite their food are usually most cheaply and 

 effectualky killed with arsenites, such as Paris-green, while those that 

 suck their food from beneath the surface of the plant have to be killed 

 by contact insecticides, such as kerosene-emulsion, whale-oil soap, etc. 

 In some cases insects that chew have to be killed with contact insecti 

 cides; for instance, when the} 7 are on fruits or vegetables nearly mature 

 or on which it would be dangerous to use Paris-green because of its 

 poisonous properties. 



The pump should be strong and well made, of sufficient capacity to 

 throw the one or two sprays required without too great exertion. An 

 attempt to spray a large orchard with a pump designed to use on small 

 garden plants is discouraging, to say the least. 



When large, high trees are to be sprayed, it is often found best to 

 build an elevated stage on top of the wagon-tank or over the barrel 

 containing the liquid. To reach the top of the tree, it is usually best to 

 fasten the nozzle to the tip of a strong bamboo or to attach it to a length 



