WILEN ro APPLY KEROSENE EMULSION. 19 



TIIK HEST TKKAT.MENr. 



Of (lie many insecticides used, Iveroseiie eiiiidsion has been found 

 to he the most satisfactory remedy for the tobacco thrips. Tobacco 

 decoction in a concenti'ated strength seems to be elfecti\e, l)ut. because 

 of the amount of material necessary and the lal)or involved in its prep- 

 aration, its use is less satisfactory. Rose-leaf insecticide, Avhile elfect- 

 ive in concentrated strengths, is impractical because of its greater 

 expense as compared Avith the emulsion. The advantages of kerosene 

 emulsion are its destructive power against the insects and its low cost 

 Avhen compared Avitli other possible remedies. Its one disadvantage 

 lies in the fact that it can not l)e applied while the sun is shining. 

 This has been overcome by night applications, as herein described. 



It Avas suggested that the kerosene might affect the aroma of the 

 cigar. Cigars Avrapped with sprayed tobacco, however, fail to give 

 evidence of any such effect. Verj^ particular attention Avas paid to 

 this point, but no traces Avhatever of the kerosene in either the leaf or 

 the cigar could be detected. 



now TO :\rAKE KEROSENE EMULSION. 



The formula heretofore giA^en, namely, 2 gallons of kerosene, 1 gal- 

 lon Avater, and one-half pound of soap, is folloAved Avhen hard soap 

 is used. The soap should be cut into fine shavings and dissolved in 

 the gallon of boiling Avater. The Avater should then be added to the 

 kerosene Avhile still hot and churned by means of a force pmnp, pump- 

 ing it back into the same A^essel for ten minutes. When thoroughly 

 emulsified it has a creamy ai^pearance and u})on cooling becomes much 

 thicker. 



A certain naphtha soft soap is noAv mamifactured that Avill tlis- 

 soIa'c readily and by the use of Avhich the emulsion can be made Avith- 

 out heat. When this soap is used, a pint Avill replace the hard soap 

 in the formula. This naphtha soap has the advantage that it can be 

 made up at short notice and at any place needed. In lots of 100 

 pounds it can be obtained at 3i cents per jjound. Whale-oil soap has 

 been used to replace hard soap in the formula, but seems to have A'ery 

 little advantage over hard soaj). 



AVhen making the emulsion, care should be taken that it is com- 

 pletel}^ emulsified. Each particle of the kerosene must l)e surrounded 

 by a film of soap, and unless this be brought about by thorough 

 churning Avith the force pump the kerosene, being free, Avill not mix 

 Avith the Avater, but Avill rise to the surface and. as the sprayei- l)e- 

 comes nearly empty, will be forced out in the spray and l)urn the 

 foliage. 



AVHEN TO AIM'LV TIIK KAH LSION. 



The emulsion should be ap|)lie(l (ir>l when the ])l:ints are in tlu^ 

 seed bed. .V number of a|)pli('ations Avill be advisal)le in oi'der that 



