19 



Much less than this does not destroy many insects and perhaps it 

 had better be stronger rather than weaker. A long list of sub- 

 stances and mixtures might be giv'en in addition to those mention- 

 ed, but none of them are of so great value as those given, and most 

 are of doubtful efficacy. Some other substances have had, and 

 still have, more or less reputation among farmers, which are of no 

 value whatever, so far as I can discover, and of course their use 

 involves loss of time and permits the uninjured insects to go on 

 with their ravages. I refer to such remedies as buckwheat flour, 

 fine, dry wood dust, etc. These have been thoroughly tried to 

 no purpose, except the establishing of the fact that they are useless. 

 I have tried these and other substances for cabbage worms more 

 than on any other plants, but I have never seen a worm destroyed 

 or even driven away by them, and yet they have been v'ery confi- 

 dently recommended time and again. A remedy for plant lice, 

 mealy-bug, etc., which I have tried thoroughly, is in itself so sim- 

 ple that it seems almost absurd : it is simply keeping watch of 

 plants, and when insects appear directing a small stream of water 

 against them until they fall off'. For six years the plants in a con- 

 servatory have been kept free from the common pests of such a 

 place in this way. In watering by hose nozzle or force pump, all 

 that is needed is that the opening be partly stopped by the finger, 

 in order that a small, forcible stream may be obtained, ajid this is 

 directed upon infested plants. The shock of the stream so far dis- 

 ables the insects that when once knocked oft' they rarely have 

 strength to crawl to the leaves again, but if they do the next wat- 

 ering finishes them. 1 do not see why small shrubs and plants out 

 of doors could not be treated in the same manner. Of course I only 

 recommend this method as useful in case of non-flying, soft insects, 

 such as those named. It is not supposed that it is of any other 

 than limited application, but it has proved very efficient. No very 

 great force of water is needed, since most insects are easily dis- 

 lodged by a direct stroke, such as the stream would give. I have 

 attempted to free the same sort of plants from insects bv fumigat- 

 ing with tobacco and formerly depended chiefly upon this ; but, as 

 has been said, for six years nothing but the cold water treatment 

 has been used, and, with far less trouble, the plants have been kept 

 cleaner than in the old way. 



STARVATION. 



One method of getting rid of troublesome insects always re- 



