332 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



find, from experiments, there is a difference in the strength of the soap, 

 it will be better for persons using it, to try it diluted as above, and if it 

 does not kill the insect, add a little more soap, with caution. In corre- 

 sponding with Messrs. Downer, Austin & Co., on the difference in its ap- 

 pearance, they say : ' Whale Oil Soap varies much in its relative strength, 

 the article not being made as soap, but being formed in our process of 

 bleaching oil. When it is of very sharp taste, and dark appearance, the 

 alkali predominates ; and when light-colored and flat taste, the grease 

 predominates.' The former I have generally used, but have tried the 

 light-colored, and find it equally effectual, but requiring a little more 

 soap, say two pounds to thirteen .gallons of water. 



"Mode of Preparation. Take whatever quantity of soap you wish to 

 prepare, and dissolve it in boiling water, about one quart to a pound; in 

 this way strain it through a fine wire or hair sieve, which takes out the 

 dirt, and prevents its stopping the valves of the engine, or the nose of the 

 syringe; then add cold water, to make it the proper strength; apply it to 

 the rose-bush with a hand-engine or syringe, with as much force as prac- 

 ticable, and be sure that every part of the leaves is well saturated with the 

 liquid. What falls to the ground, in application, will do good in destroy- 

 ing the worms and enriching the soil, and, from its trifling cost, it can be 

 used with profusion. A hogshead of 136 gallons costs forty-five cents, 

 not quite four mills per gallon. Early in the morning, or in the even- 

 ing, is the proper time to apply it to the plants. 



" As there are many other troublesome and destructive insects the 

 above preparation will destroy, as effectually as the Rose Slug, it may be 

 of benefit to the community to know the different kinds upon which I have 

 tried it with success. 



"The Thrips, often called the Vine-Fretter, a small, light-colored 

 or spotted fly, quick in motion, which, in some places, are making the 

 rose-bush nearly as bad in appearance as the effects of the Slug. Jlphis, 

 or Plant Louse, under the name of Green or Brown Fly ; an insect not 

 quick in motion, very abundant on, and destructive to, the young shoots 

 of the Rose, the Peach T-ree, and many other plants. The Black Fly, a 

 very troublesome and destructive insect, that infests the young shoots of the 

 Cherry and the Snowball Tree. I have never known any positive cure for 

 the effects of this insect, until this time. Two varieties of insects that are 

 destructive to, and very much disfigure, Evergreens, the Balsam or Balm 

 of Gilead Fir in particular, one an Aphis, the other very much like the 

 Rose Slug. The Acarus, or Red Spider, that -well-known pest to gar- 

 deners. 



" The disease Mildew, on the Gooseberry, Peach, Grape Vine, &c., .See., 

 is checked and entirely destroyed by a weak dressing of the solution. 



" The above insects are generally all destroyed by one application, if 



