Aphids Injurious to Orchard Fruits, Ete. 41 
HomemapeE NIcoTiIne SPRAYS. 
Tobacco decoctions may be prepared readily at home, and, although 
varying somewhat in strength, will give as satisfactory results as the 
commercial products unless used too weak. The practicability of 
making the nicotine sprays will depend chiefly upon the availability 
and cost of the refuse tobacco. Tobacco stems, sweepings, and 
damaged tobacco are the most economical for this purpose and the 
dark types of tobacco, owing to their relatively high nicotine content, 
are preferable to light-colored tobacco. If a desirable type of refuse 
tobacco can be purchased at a reasonable price, the fruit grower can 
often make nicotine sprays profitably at home. The first cost of 
the tobacco waste is reduced, since, after the nicotine has been ex- 
tracted, the tobacco still has a fertilizer value of about one-half its 
first cost. 
The amount of refuse tobacco necessary to give a spray contain- 
ing 0.05 or 9.06 per cent of nicotine will vary considerably, as will be 
noted in the following table adapted from a publication of the Vir- 
ginia Agricultural Experiment Station,! which is given as a guide: 
Formula for making nicotine extracts. 
Number of pounds per 100 
gallons necessary to make 
Kind of tobacco. From— Nicotine. solutions containing dif- 
ferent percentages of nico- 
2 tine. 
Percent. | 0.06 per cent. | 0.05 per cent. 
NGISNTISLEMS=-seacnce ose tesco rou.c RiCHMONG Vide ses eee ee 0. 481 145 121 
TD) Garena tS aeons cnee ae Danville Va eee eee . 609 110 91 
DWEODINGS 2c eee a reece o lc ek eee tes ee Gover: wan eens cetes - 884 74 62 
INPSIGS Orinocos>..2 7 cathe. Sheth Appomattox, Va........-. 5. 535 124 104 
Olives ss2---:-5- Powhatan, Vai ooo s2e 3.367 19} 164 
LAT se eee eee WanwillesVis 56sec eee 2. 984 22 18 
Sweepings...7.... owisville; Keyeo sos. 5-2 - 753 91 85 
SUT OLRG Faas: See See see Chatham, Va......-<.-:--- 2.306 284 233 
WA DWONS <r een meses siqelemcee (6 lo ee tae 3.05 213 18 
SOURCE ese ant eke ceieee lomes Os. eu cee sseee 3. 466 19 15 
MARKO S ee en coon ene ot oe oece Appomattox, Va........-- 2. 835 234 19} 
Nests. OrinocO: 40-222 lose cise Bowling Green, Va.....--- 5. 629 11} 10 
Meditim'smoker!. 5.2.2 -.s22.-.- Chatham: Vates ses. eae 3. 766 174 144 
Common’smoker. =.= 2-522) 652 nnes COO rey ones Bee op 2.47 26 213 
Since it is impracticable for the fruit grower to have the refuse 
tobacco chemically analyzed, he should approximate the class to 
which it belongs and use according to the foregoing table. The 
chief danger lies in making the solution too weak. If made stronger 
than necessary, no damage to the plant will result. 
METHODS OF MAKING. 
One of the most convenient as well as satisfactory methods of 
making nicotine sprays on the farm is by simply soaking the tobacco 
1 Ellett, W. B., and Grissom, J. Thomas. Preparation of nicotine extracts on the farm. Va. Agr. Exp. 
Sta. Bul. 208. 1914. 
