44 THE REPORT OF THE No. 1^ 



Smyrna fig tree an insect emerges from galls within the former and pollinates 

 the female flowers of the latter. 



After much labor the Blastophaga has now been successfully introduced 

 into the fig orchards of California, where both Caprifig and Smyrna fig trees 

 thrive as well as they do in Asia Minor, and successful means have been, 

 adopted for the caprification of the Smyrna figs. The value of this experi- 

 mens to the United States will be above one million dollars a year. 



As I have already stated, much work is being carried on to determine the 

 value of insecticides other than Paris Green. Reference has already been 

 made to the lime-sulphur solution which is now used extensively against the 

 San Jose Scale. So effective is this insecticide that the fruit-grower may be 

 said to have the scale at his mercy, and it will only flourish where the fruit- 

 g"'ower is indifferent and will not spray. 



Experiments were carried on this year in the St. Catharines district by 

 Prof. Harcourt of the Agricultural College and myself, in co-operation with, 

 a committee of the Niagara Fruit Growers' Association to determine the value 

 of the lime-sulphur-soda mixture against the San Jose Scale. This mixture 

 does not require boiling, hence is more readily prepared than the lime-sul- 

 phur mixture, now in common use in scale-infested orchards. It was prepared 

 as follows : 20 pounds sulphur were stirred into hot water at the bottom of a 

 barrel ; 25 pounds of quick lime and 12 pounds of sal soda were put in and hot 

 water added as needed. After thorough stirring the whole was covered and 

 left for at least half an hour. When required for use dilute to ,40 gallons. 

 The results were quite satisfactory, and gave about as good results as were 

 secured from the use of the lime-sulphur mixture. 



Another lime-sulphur-soda mixture was also tried, caustic soda being 

 used instead of sal soda. The formula is : 



Lime 30 pounds 



Sulphur 15 pounds 



Caustic soda 5 pounds 



Water 40 gallons 



In some localities arsenite of lime has been used extensively instead of 

 Paris Green alone and with Bordeaux Mixture, when a combination insecti- 

 cide and fungicide is required. 



Arsenite of lime has been proven to be a very effective insecticide. It is 

 prepared by boiling 1 pound of white arsenic and two pounds of lime in two 

 gallons of water for 40 minutes, and when required for use 1 quart to a barrel 

 of water. As white arsenic is cheaper than Paris Green this preparation is 

 to be preferred to the latter. 



The Kedzie Mixture or Arsenite of soda, known for some years, is even 

 a better mixture than the arsenite of lime. It is prepared by boiling 1 pound 

 of white arsenic, 4 pounds of sal soda in two gallons of water for 15 minutes,^ 

 until a clear solution is obtained. When required for use take 1^ quarts^ 

 G*"' this solution, 4 pounds of freshly slaked lime and add to a barrel of water. 

 It can also be used with Bordeaux Mixture. 



Another arsenic compound has also come rapidly into general use, viz., 

 arsenate of lead. This insecticide was tried and found effective in Massachu- 

 setts a few years ago in the fight against the Gypsy Moth. The formula is :: 



Arsenate of soda 4 ounces 



Acetate of lead 11 ounces 



Water 150 gallons. 



The arsenate of soda is dissolved in 2 quarts, and the acetate of lead in 

 4 quarts of warm water, then added to the 150 gallons of water. 



