84 AUSTRALIAN BUG. 



The mixture is then churned, as it were, together by 

 means of a spray-nozzled syringe, or double-action pump, 

 for ten minutes, by means of which the oil, soap, and 

 water are so thoroughly combined that the mixture settles 

 down into a cream-like consistency, and does not, if the 

 operation has been properly performed, separate again. 

 This is used diluted with some three or four times its 

 bulk of water for a watering ; if required for a wash, at 

 least nine times its bulk is needed, that is, three gallons 

 of "Emulsion," as it is termed, make thirty gallons of 

 wash. Warning is given that care must be taken with 

 each new crop to ascertain the strength that can be 

 borne by the leafage : this of course varies with the age 

 of the leaves, as well as the nature of the crop. 



In my own experiments with this mixture I increased 

 the quantity of soft-soap, and for Hop-plants I should 

 consider it would be desirable to double the proportion of 

 soft-soap and lessen that of the paraffin to at least a sixth. 



An addition of some amount of paraffin to soft-soap 

 wash has been shown to be serviceable by the experiments 

 of Mr. Ward at Stoke Edith in 1883 and the following 

 season. The proportions used by him for large quantities 

 are 12 pounds of soft-soap and half a gallon of paraffin 

 to 100 gallons of hot water, the mixture stirred well 

 together and used when cool ; the nearer boiling that 

 the water is used the better the paraffin mixes. This 

 wash is found to be very effective in killing the Aphides 

 without injuring the plant or the burr. 



For low shrubs or plants to which application could 

 be made by means of a watering-can, the mixture of 

 which the details of preparation and convenient method 

 of storing are given as follows, would probably be found 

 serviceable : 



" To eight parts of soft water add one part of black 

 (soft) soap, and boil briskly for a few minutes until the 

 soap is thoroughly dissolved. While boiling add paraffin, 

 or any similar mineral oil, and boil for a minute or two 

 longer, when the whole will be thoroughly amalgamated,* 



* For field use the immediate application would save all need of 



