226 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
moistened, has been found very effective against cut worms. Some prefer 
to sweeten it with cheap sugar or molasses, specially for grasshoppers. 
The disadvantage of the mash is that it soon dries and then is of no 
value. In experiments against cut worms in onion fields, Mr Sirrine 
found that either dry bran and paris green in equal parts or 20 pounds 
of middlings to 1 pound of poison was a very effective bait. 
Internal and contact insecticides combined. Hellebore and 
tobacco may act either internally or kill by contact. One ounce ot 
fresh white hellebore thoroughly mixed in 3 gallons of water is a 
proportion recommended by Lodeman and Gould,* while Dr Smith 
gives 1 ounce to 2 quarts of water. It may be applied pure or 
mixed with plaster or flour if desired. It is used largely against currant 
worms, specially when the presence of nearly mature fruit prohibits the 
application of paris green. 
A strong decoction of tobacco may be prepared by boiling stems and 
other refuse till a deep brown extract is obtained. A few trials will 
enable one to ascertain how much this can be diluted and still be effec- 
tive. It may be used successfully as a contact insecticide against soft 
bodied insects like plant lice, saw fly larvae and others, and it may also 
serve as a repellant or poison when applied to plants for the purpose of 
protecting them from attacks by flea beetles, and many other insects. If 
in the form of a fine dust, itis a very effective contact insecticide, and 
may be used with great advantage on the surface or worked into the 
ground around trees infested with root lice and other subterranean in- 
sects. In greenhouses it is very valuable, when stems or leaves are laid 
around, specially on the heating pipes, as its odor seems to be unfavor- 
able to insect life. There is no easier method of keeping plant lice under 
control in a conservatory than by fumigation with tobacco smoke. 
Contact insecticides. The most important of those commonly used 
are kerosene emulsion, whale oil soap solution and pyrethrum. 
The standard kerosene emulsion is prepared as follows: 
Land SOAP Uo Jae va oh cis oe be es 2 Eee eee ae Bee ee > pound 
Witten: ne ui Bciaise Webosmtsucneb eheek ae Ae bine cise Pie ae ete 1 gallon 
IKeenosene:tpecn ype lMee moe ive Sot ett ca.tly, ) he eee aes a 2 gallons 
Dissolve the soap in boiling water and while still hot add the kerosene 
and emulsify by passing it rapidly through a force pump till it assumes 
a creamy consistency and oil does not rise to the surface. Dilute with g 
to 15 parts of water. In limestone regions where hard water is the rule, 
better results will probably be obtained by using the sour milk emul- 

@ Bulletin 114, Cornell university agricultural experiment station. 
