38 THE BOOK OF ASPARAGUS 



pounds of soft soap to three quarts of paraffin, adding 

 water to make sixty gallons of material for syringing. 

 The soap must be boiled till well dissolved in two gal- 

 lons of water, then in another vessel put three quarts of 

 paraffin and pour the soap water on it. With a whisk, 

 made of a handful of small sticks, well stir rapidly for 

 ten minutes, when it will be mixed. Some advise the 

 syringe to be used for this purpose, but I have never been 

 able to do this, as it becomes too hot to handle properly. 

 If I wish to use this at once, I add the water to make the 

 sixty gallons. If syringed over the diseased plants at a 

 temperature of eighty degrees, it will be more effectual 

 than when cold. 



There are many similar washes. The Board of Agri- 

 culture, 4 Whitehall Place, London, issues leaflets free, 

 bearing on this and other obnoxious insects. 



Paris green and lime forms another mixture, but this is 

 a poison, whereas the former kills by contact. If this be 

 used, however, take of Paris green one pound, lime one 

 pound, and one hundred and sixty gallons of water. The 

 lime must be carefully slaked before mixing, so that 

 every particle of it is well and thoroughly powdered 

 before mixing with the water, or the syringe will 

 become clogged. The reason that lime is necessary is 

 that Paris green is insoluble, and will quickly settle, but 

 the lime somewhat prevents this. The Paris green is a 

 very fine green heavy powder, and when coming in con- 

 tact with the lime in the water mixes somewhat with it. 

 Still it must be continually stirred when using, or it will 

 settle at the bottom of the vessel. 



I have also used dry wood ashes and sawdust mixed 

 well together with paraffin at the rate of two bushels 

 of ashes, one bushel of sawdust, and one gallon of 

 paraffin. When the plants are wet, sow over them 

 this mixture, repeat several times, and, if it adheres, this 

 beetle will disappear. 



