FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. ^ 123 



but is harmless to man and beast. It will kill many of the insects of 

 the garden if dusted on or applied as a spray at the rate of one ounce 

 to two gallons of water. 



Use the powder when it is undesirable to use poison, but never buy 

 any unless it comes in tightly sealed packages. It loses its strength on 

 short exposure to the air. An hour will suffice to weaken it. It must 

 be applied from time to time, as it quickly loses its strength. 



TOBACCO. 



Tobacco in the form of dust may be obtained of the large manufactur- 

 ers at a few cents a pound. 



It is useful in destroying root-lice, especially woolly-aphis, in young 

 trees, and in keeping insects from garden truck. For root-aphis, in- 

 corporate four to six handfulls of tobacco dust into the soil about the 

 roots and induce a thrifty, healthy growth by using liberal quantities 

 of nitrate of soda or barnyard manure early in the spring. 



A strong infusion or tea made of waste will kill plant lice if sprayed 

 when they first appear. 



HYDRATED LIME. 



Finely slaked lime is often useful because of its slight caustic proper- 

 ties. Against such larvae of saw-flies and beetles as are sticky, for in- 

 stance those of the cherry-slug and asparagus-beetle, it may be used as 

 a substitute for poison, if the latter, for some reason is undesirable. 



Stone lime may be slaked with a small amount of hot water, using just 

 enough to turn it to a dry powder. Such slaked lime is as fine as flour 

 and very soft to the touch, having very little grit. Use a metal pail or 

 kettle to slake in, as the heat may set fire to wood. Do not use too much 

 water, and where possible, use freshly burned lime. 



Hydrated lime may be used in making bordeaux-mixture, but it is not 

 as reliable as good, fresh, lump lime. It is less adhesive, not as strong 

 (so more should be used) and more expensive. The one advantage is that 

 it is a little easier to use. 



Ground lime for making bordeaux-mixture acts exactly like lump lime, 

 if fresh, but this is difiicult to determine as it is already in a powder. 



CAUTIONS. 



Do not spray while plants are in bloom. It is prohibited by law, ex- 

 cept when canker-worm is present, and may destroy bees and other bene- 

 ficial insects. 



Do not dissolve copper sulphate in an iron or tin vessel. It will ruin 

 the vessel and spoil the spraying solution. 



For all spraying solutions containing copper sulphate, the pump must 

 be brass or porcelain lined. 



Wash out pump and entire outfit each time after using. 



Use arsenate of lead on stone fruits in preference to other forms of 

 arsenical poisons. It is less liable to burn the foliage. 



Do not spray fruits or plants with poison within a month or more 

 of the time when they are to be picked. 



Keep all "stock solutions" covered to prevent evaporation. 



