ICEEYA PUBCHASI. 85 



and, if bottled and securely corked while warm, it will 

 remain so, and be fit for use at any time when required. 

 The strength of the solution of course depends on the 

 amount of mineral oil in it, and it can be easily reduced 

 to the proper power by mixing it with soft water as it is 

 wanted for use." 



Mr. Malcolm Dunn gave me the following notes as to 

 the method he found most convenient for mixing the 

 application : " In practice I boil the proper proportions 

 of soap and water together, and when ready I fill this into 

 ordinary wine-bottles, which have been placed in boiling 

 water. The bottles are about half-filled with the lye, and 

 then the paraffin is poured into them, tivo gills being put 

 into each bottle. The bottles are then filled up with the 

 boiling lye, corked at once, and stored away for use. 



" When required for use a bottle of the mixture is 

 poured into a four-gallon watering-pot, which is filled up 

 with soft water, and is ready for use, at a strength of 

 one wine-glass of paraffin (half a gill) to one gallon of 

 water." 



Mr. Dunn further notes that the important point is the 

 proportion of the soap and water : "Eight parts water 

 and one part soft-soap thoroughly amalgamated form the 

 lye which takes mineral oil, and thoroughly amalgamates 

 with whatever proportion of this may be added, that is 

 to say, the paraffin may be put into the boiling soap and 

 water in any quantity, and the whole will mix together 

 of an equal strength throughout. Heat helps much in 

 quickly producing thorough amalgamation of all the 

 ingredients, and hence I have stated that they should be 

 mixed in a boiling state. 



" Few plants in a green state will stand a strength of 

 four wine-glasses (two gills) to the gallon, but at the same 

 time it is not necessary to use it so strong for even Scale- 

 insects, the most difficult to kill of all ordinary plant- 

 pests. 



storing. For garden use the arrangement of bottling saves much risk 

 from careless workers, as the exact amount to be used can be given out. 



