131 



(7 ) Resin soap for Bordeaux mixture and for resin icash. — lu the 

 course of work in Florida, Mr. W. T. Swingle, one of my assistants, has 

 found that a clear resinous solution may be very quickly made as fol- 

 lows: 



Eesiu. 2 parts. 



Crystallized sal soda, 1 part. 



Melt together aiid add 4 parts of water. 



This forms a stock solution of a beautiful clear brown color. I have 

 used it, at Mr. Swingle's suggestion, in connection with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture to increase the wetting power of the latter, and find it just as 

 effective and much cheaper than ivory soap or whale-oil soap. The com- 

 pound costs about 1^ cents per pound, while ivory soap can not be 

 bought for less than 16 cents and whale-oil soap for less than 8 cents per 

 pound. It is probable that this preparation might prove equally as 

 valuable as the ordinary resin washes as an insecticide, and its use as 

 such is therefore suggested. 



fSJ Sulphur compounds. — A number of the sulphur compounds have 

 proved of value as insecticides and fungicides. They are among the 

 oldest prei^arations in use, especially as fungicides. Amongthose gener- 

 ally recommended are potassium sulphide, eau grison, and the sulphur, 

 lime, and salt mixture. Potassium sulphide is not now generally used, 

 as it is likely to injure the plants. The sulphur, lime, and salt com- 

 pound is extensively used on the Pacific coast for the San Joso scale. 

 Mr. Pierce, our agent in California, has also found that this preparation 

 will largely prevent peach curl, if properly applied. The eau grison and 

 the suli>hur, lime, and salt mixture are both troublesome to make, as 

 it is necessary to boil together the ingredients of each for several hours. 

 Messrs. Swingle and Webber, in the course of tbeir investigations 

 upon the diseases of citrus fruits, have experimented with a number of 

 sulphur compounds, in the hope of obtaining one that can be made 

 cheaply and without the long tedious boiling process. It is believed 

 that this has been accomplished, but as there are some points in con- 

 nection with the work that yet remain to be settled, it is thought best 

 not to give the formulas in full. Suffice it to say that compounds which 

 appear to be as valuable as any of the old ones, and which can be pre- 

 pared in a few minutes, have been obtained at a cost not exceeding 

 one-fourth of a cent per gallon. 



Mr. Galloway's paper was accompanied by the exhibition of a large 

 series of vials, illustrating the various insecticide mixtures and combi- 

 nations described by the author. Some of the mixtures were experi- 

 mentally made on a small scale, to illustrate the characteristic reactions 

 which accompany the combining of the different elements. In the 

 course of the examination of the specimens and the discussion which 

 followed, it was pointed out that the kerosene mixtures were not as 

 .■)21G— No. 2 6 



