225 



To control this pest it is better to try to destroy the young crickets 

 in the restricted breeding grounds, than to wait until they are migrating. 

 Spraying with a 5 to 10% kerosene emulsion ^nll destroy newly- 

 hatched individuals, but is of no use after the first moult. Poisoned 

 bait composed of fresh horse-manure mixed into a paste with one to 

 two per cent, of its weight of sodium arsenate, previously dissolved 

 in sufficient water, and Hghtly scattered round the bushes frequented 

 by the crickets, is an eSective measure of control. Straw placed 

 in small heaps in the breeding districts will attract the crickets at 

 night and, if burnt before they leave them the next day, immense 

 numbers may thus be destroyed. A large gasoline blast torch may 

 also be used with good results. To check migratory crickets vertical 

 walled ditches containing deeper pitfalls should be dug across their 

 path. The insects massing in the pits quickly smother each other 

 and, if soon spread out to dry, they form valuable food for pigs and 

 fowls. A fencing made of 1 by 8 inch planking joined end to end and 

 stood on edge and furnished with frequent pits is sometimes used 

 instead of ditches. 



Owing to the sparsely populated nature of the country contiguous 

 to the breeding groimd of this cricket, the cost of its suppression 

 should devolve on the ■ commimity and not on the ranchers first 

 affected. 



Melander (A. L). Winter Sprays: Lime-Sulphur and Crude Oil 

 Emulsions. — Washington Agric. Exjjt. Sta., Pullman, Popular Bull, 

 no. 107, February 1917, 12 pp. 

 This bulletin is a revision of a previous one which has already been 

 abstracted [see this Revieiv, Ser. A, ii, p. 322]. The value of soda- 

 sulphur preparations used as substitutes for lime-sulphur is discussed ; 

 these are considered more costly in view of the results they give than 

 standard lime-sulphur. While 90 per cent, of the solids in lime- 

 sulphur theoretically have killing powers, only 50 per cent, of the 

 material in the soda-sulphur preparations is thus available. Hence 

 they should be used at a greater concentration than lime-sulphur 

 in order to attain similar results ; thus 100 lb. of dry soda-sulphur 

 dissolved in 200 U.S. gals, of water would give a spray approximately 

 equivalent to 40 lb. sulphur and 20 lb. lime, or 14 U.S. gals, of standard 

 concentrate (33°) lime-sulphur diluted in 200 U.S. gals, of water. The 

 fact that much weaker soda- sulphur sprays have given satisfactory 

 field results is paralleled by similar satisfactory results following 

 the use of lime-sulphur in more dilute solutions than the 1:^:5 

 formula. Soda-sulphur is apt to scorch foliage. Tests wdth barium- 

 sulphur have given unsatisfactory results. A liquid soda-sulphur 

 spray can be simply prepared by stirring 1 lb. concentrated lye or 

 potash and 1| lb. gromid sulphur in | U.S. gal. of hot water. Chemical 

 reaction is at once set up and in a few minutes the wash is ready. It 

 should be diluted to 3 or 4 U.S. gals, for use ; nearly twice as much should 

 be used as of lime-sulphur. Attention is drawn to the necessity for 

 care in making oils into an emulsion, factory-made miscible oil being 

 recommended for the pm'pose. Directions for making fish-oil soap are 

 as follows : Boil 20 U.S. gals, of water : dissolve in it 7 lb. lye or potash, 

 98 per cent. ; then stir in 5 U.S. gals, of fish-oil and boil for 2 hours. Tliis 

 should make about 130 lb. of gelatinous soap. 



