THE KANSAS PEACH. 77 



ing life-history emphasizes the fact that it is necessary to do this very 

 promptly, for the larva' remain in these situations a very short time, 

 and early in May will have abandoned their ]:>urrows in the young 

 shoots, to transform, often elsewhere, although sometimes pupating 

 in the withered leaves. The presence of dying terminals does not 

 always indicate that a larva is necessarily present, since in many in- 

 stances it will have wandered to some other point. With large or- 

 chards this step would be a very tedious one, and, with trees of any 

 size, often impracticable. 



The knowledge of the hibernating habits of this insect indicates a 

 more effective method of control. This consists in spraying the trees 

 during December or January, or any time after the foliage has fallen, 

 with kerosene emulsion, resin wash, or some similar oily preparation 

 which will penetrate the burrows and destroy the young larvse. Mr. 

 Ehrhorn found the kerosene treatment very satisfactory, as practiced 

 in California in the winter of 1897-'98, the little excremental pellets 

 of the larvae absorbing the oily mixture and leading it directly to the 

 insect in its hibernating cell. For California, Mr. Ehrhorn recom- 

 mends that the application of the mixture should be begun in De- 

 cember. 



Kerosene emulsion has one advantage over other oily preparations, 

 such as the resin wash, in that it is more penetrating and will be more 

 certain of reaching the larvt^e. Where the emulsion is to be prepared 

 by hand, it is better to make it in rather small quantities at a time, in 

 order to secure a perfect combination of oil and soap. The propor- 

 tions usually taken are as follows : Kerosene, two gallons ; whale-oil 

 soap, half a pound ; water, one gallon. The soap, first finely divided, 

 is dissolved in the water by boiling and immediately added boiling 

 hot, away from the tire, to the kerosene. The whole mixture is then 

 agitated violently while hot by being pumped back upon itself by a 

 force-pump and direct-discharge nozzle, throwing a strong stream, 

 preferably one-eighth inch in diameter. After from three to five 

 minutes' pumping the emulsion should be perfect, and the mixture 

 will have increased from one-third to one-half in bulk and assumed 

 the consistency of cream. Well made, the emulsion will keep indefi- 

 nitely, and should be diluted only as wanted for use. The proper di- 

 lution for the above formula is about twenty gallons of spraying 

 mixture. 



When hard water is employed in the making of the emulsion or in 

 diluting afterwards, it is necessary to use about twenty-five per cent, 

 more soap, or preferably the water may be broken with lye, or rain- 

 water may be used. 



In the use of kerosene or other oily washes on plants, the applica- 



