14 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



been benefitted by its use ; and Mr. Hay, gardener at the Illinois Institution 

 for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, says that he has found that black 

 pepper and ashes in the proportion of a pound of pepper to the pail-full of 

 ashes, is an infallible remedy. How reliable this last may be, can be ascer- 

 tained next year, but at present I can .safely recommend nothing but the 

 mixture of green. 



From a series of experiments made last summer by Messrs. Wm. Saun- 

 ders and E. B. Eeed, of London, Ont., who were directed by the Agricul- 

 tural Department to institute them, we also learn the great advantage of the 

 green ; and as the results of these experiments are interesting and important, 

 I quote herewith those obtained with other chemicals : 



Arsenious Acid (Arsenic). — This chemical being much cheaper than 

 Paris Green, and more uniform in its composition, we hoped it would have 

 proved a practical and safe remedy. We tried it in the proportions of half 

 ounce, one ounce and two ounces to a jjound of flour, and while we are not 

 prepared, from the few trials we have made, to entirely disapprove of its 

 use, the results we have obtained point to the conclusion that where it has 

 been used in sufficiently large proportions to destroy the insect, it has caused 

 more or less injury to the leaves. In cases where Paris Green is not obtain- 

 able, this might be used as a substitute, in the propoi'tion of one ounce to one 

 pound flour, which should always be colored with some black powder, such 

 as charcoal or black antimony, so as to lessen the risk of accident from 

 its use. 



Another Arsenical compound was also tested, known in commerce as 

 Powdered Cobalt or Fly Poison ; this was used in the same proportions as the 

 last mentioned, and with similar results, but owing to its higher price we do 

 not recommend it for general use. 



Sulphate of Copper (Blue Stone). — A strong solution of this salt was 

 tried in the proportion of two ounces to one gallon of water, and showered 

 on the vines with a watering pot, without damage to either the insect or 

 the plant. 



Bichromate of Potash. — This is a poisonous substance largely used in 

 dyeing, and one which has attracted some attention in France of late, as a 

 remedy for insects. We used it dissolved in water in- the proportion of two 

 ounces to three gallons of water. This killed the insects eflfectually, but at 

 the same time destroyed the plants. Whether, in a more diluted form, this 

 remedy could be effectively used without injury to the foliage, we are unable 

 at })resent to say, but shall experiment further with it. 



Powdered Hellebore. — This powerful irritant which is so effectual as 

 a remedy for the Currant Worm we tried without perceptible efi'ect, both in 

 powder and also mixed with water, in the proportion of one ounce to the 

 gallon of water. Several other poisonous substances were also used with 

 like results. 



Carbolate op Lime. — There are several preparations sold under this 

 name, which we found to vary much in composition and character, and equally 

 so in effect. We tried an article known as Dougall's without any good re- 

 sult, but succeeded better with one prepared by Lyman Bros, of Toronto, a 

 black powder manufactured, we understand, from coal tar. This destroyed 

 a, large proportion of the larvse, but w^e doubt whether it would kill the per- 

 fect insect ; it is, moreover, used in an undiluted form, which would render 

 its cost greater than that of the Paris Green mixture, so we see no advan- 

 tage in using it, although the fact of its being less poisonous may induce some 

 \(> try it who are prejudiced against Paris Green. 



Ashes and Air-slacked Lime, we found, had been extensively used by 



