PEOCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 267 



Insects — What Will Destroy ? 

 Mr. ^y. J. McGowu, South Union, Kentucky : '-We cultivate 

 garden seeds largely. Insects are our great enemies. Their 

 increase of late years is alarming. The reports of the club ar6 

 read extensively with interest. Any remedy, therefore, which you 

 can susrirest for the extermination of these pests will be read with 

 avidity. The soil hereabouts seems to be stocked the present sea- 

 son so full of their eggs that we anticipate an unusually large 

 numl)er of them next year. Lime is recommended as a manure ; 

 does it tend to diminish our insect enemies. It has been recom- 

 mended by Solon Robinson to use salt ; but that is worth 75 cents 

 per bushel here, and lime 25 cents. Can we aiibrd to use them ?" 

 Mr, Solon Robinson. — We think not, unh ss that is the price of 

 lime unslacked. We would not recommend salt at over 25 cents 

 a bushel, except in a small way. We M^ould encourage the dis- 

 cussion of this insect question. It is one of the most important 

 that can be agitated by farmers. It is doubtful whether the whole 

 country realizes one-tenth as much food as it Avould if not destroyed 

 by insects in the lield and rats in the granary. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — I do not believe that lime or salt used 

 as a manure is of the least value in destroying insects. Indeed I 

 have tried the experiment repeatedly of placing several kinds of 

 them in both salt and lime to undergo their transformation. It 

 will not aHect them while it remains dry. In the soil it is not in 

 sutficient quantity, although v»'et, to produce any effect. 



Prof. Tillman. — A friend of mine has lately tried bone charcoal 

 which had been used in the process of daritying petroleum. That 

 being charged wath some portion of the oil containing traces of 

 sulphur, and probably also a small quantity of carbolic (phenic) 

 acid, Avhen applied to the land, either destroys or drives away all 

 the insects. This phenic acid is one of the greatest disinfectants 

 ever discovered. It is so offensive to mosquitoes as to serve as a 

 perfect protection to a person. The bone-dust being a waste pro- 

 duct can be used at little expense for ridding us of the pests which 

 are so destructive to our crops, 



Mr, John G. Bergen inquired how it Avould do to use gas lime 

 as an insect remedy, 



Dr, Trimble said it would have no effect unless used in such 

 quantities to destroy vegetation. 



Dr, J. V. C. Smith said coal oil may kill insects, so will any 

 other oil or grease, even a drop upon a pin-point spread upon the 



