646 NEW JERSEY STATE AGRICULTURAL. 



of the investig-attn's demanded an oil that wonld be soluble in 

 water and would diffuse through it, so' as to- reach larvae every- 

 where, even if they retreated to the bottom. This set chemists 

 at work and there were, in a short time several preparations, all 

 of them purporting to be crude oil, rendered so^luble in water. 

 The most complex of these — taking the manufacturer's word 

 for its combination — is Kill-O-Scale, which is elsewhere dealt 

 with. I have, besides, three other samples, two of rhem based 

 on the heavy Texas oil; one of them f-icfe?]!! the Ohio- fields, with 

 a vaseline base. All of these dissolve in or combine readily 

 with water, forming a milky emulsion. One of them only has 

 been actually tested in the Experiment Orchard, in a very lim- 

 ited way. All O'f them offer fair chances for success as against 

 the scale insects without harm to* the trees. 



The advantage of crude oil as a scale killer over all other 

 insecticides is its penetrating power, combined with lasting qual- 

 ities. If this can be held in a preparation that will mix readily 

 and evenly with water, \\hether we call it an emulsion or a solu- 

 tion, it will simplify our battle against the insect and encourage 

 a more general fight. Many men will not try tO' clean their trees 

 simplv because of the caustic character of the mixtures most 

 generally reconimended. With a soluble oil, obtaiiu'.ble in any 

 desired quantities, ready for a simple mixture with water, ef- 

 fective against insects and safe on plants, the temptation would 

 be tO' at least try to clean trees and other infested plarjts. 



Up to this point I have used the soluble oils only as summer 

 mixtures and as such they have approved themselves. Whether 

 they will act equally well at the same dilution against the dor- 

 mant scales, remains to be proved. 



KILL-O-SCALE. 



This is a combination put upon the market by the Griffith & 

 Turner Company of Baltimore, Maryland, concerning which 

 they wrote me early in September, suggesting a trial. In answer 

 to my request for its composition and character, they advised me 

 that it was a combination of heavy kerosene, sulphurated oil and 

 resin, made soluljle in water "by a process knoAvn only toi the 

 manufacturers.'' They advised me of forwarding a gallon for 

 trial, and suggested that it be used, in part at the rate of i to 20, 

 and the remainder i to 25, of water. They further wrote con- 

 cerning it, "that Kill-O-Scale is not a summer application; it. 

 is a dormant spray, but can be used after the frr't is taken 



