REMEDIES FOR THE SQUASH-BUG AND THRIPS. 29 



Notwithstanding the statement of its efficacy against cut-worms above 

 given, it may well be doubted whether the benefit supposed to have 

 been derived from its use could not better be accounted for, from a ces- 

 sation of the attack through the maturity and pupation of the larvae 

 after a second planting. 



Gypsum and Kerosene for the Squash-bug. 



The following application for preventing the attack of the squash 

 bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is given: To two quarts of gypsum put one 

 tablespoonf ul of kerosene oil ; this sprinkled on the vines will generally 

 answer for the season. If the bugs return repeat the operation. 



The person giving the above, states : I applied it this season on several 

 thousand hills of melons, cucumbers, etc., after the bugs had commenced 

 operations, and have not since had a vine destroyed. I have used it 

 for several seasons with the same result. This is safer and cheaper than 

 Paris green. 



This preventive promises to be effective against the striped cucumber 

 bettle {Diabrotica vittata), and the cucumber flea-beetle {Crepidodera 

 cucu?neris), which in addition to the squash, injure seriously the melon 

 and the cucumber. 



Vaporized Tobacco Juice for "Thrips," etc. 



The vapor from tobacco juice for killing the smaller insects that are 

 the pests of plant-houses, has lately been employed very successfully in 

 France, but, we believe not to any extent in this country. If its merits 

 are what are claimed for it, it will supply a long-needed want in our 

 conservatories and graperies. One who has tested it states : " Ever 

 since I adopted it, it has been absolutely impossible to find a thrips in 

 my houses; and other insects have likewise disappeared." The method 

 of using it is thus described : 



Every week, whether there are insects or not, I have a number of 

 braziers containing burning charcoal distributed through my houses. 

 On each brazier is placed an old sauce-pan containing about a pint of 

 tobacco juice of about the strength of 14°. This is quickly vaporized, 

 and the atmosphere of the houses is saturated with the nicotine- 

 laden vapor, which becomes condensed on every thing with which it 

 comes in contact — leaves, bulbs, flowers, shelves, etc. When the con- 

 tents of the sauce-pans are reduced to the consistency of a thick syrup, 

 about a pint of water is added to each, and the vaporization goes on as 

 before. I consider a pint of tobacco juice sufficient for a house of 

 about 2,000 cubic feet. The smell is not so unpleasant as that from 

 fumigation, and the tobacco juice can be used more conveniently than 

 the leaves. Plants, no matter of what kind, do not suffer in the least, 

 and the most delicate flowers are not in the slightest degree affected, 



