158 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Kerosene as an insecticide acts in an entirely different way 

 from Paris green. It kills by contact, and is especially 

 appropriate for all lice, thrips, red spider and other insects 

 of that character, and to some others. Any insect immersed 

 in kerosene is at once deprived of life, and so are all grow- 

 ing plants ; but, by finely dividing it into a mist or dew, it 

 still retains its power as an insecticide, without endangering 

 even tender plants. This division is brought about by 

 emulsifying the kerosene. For this purpose dissolve half a 

 pound of yellow bar soap in one gallon of water. When it 

 boils, pour into one vessel this solution and two gallons of 

 kerosene. By means of a force pump or syringe mix the 

 whole with some force. In from three to five minutes it 

 becomes a white, creamy emulsion, in which the kerosene is 

 visible only in tiny drops. This condition remains nearly 

 permanent for some days, especially if kept in a cool place. 

 A quart of this compound, added to nine or twelve quarts 

 of water and well stirred, will still keep the form of an 

 emulsion for a short time, and give the proportion of one 

 part of kerosene to fifteen or twenty parts of water, which 

 is about right for all out-of-door use. This is sprayed upon 

 the foliage so as to wet the insect operated on, and its effects 

 are fatal at once. The water and the kerosene soon evapo- 

 rate, leaving only the film of soap, which is washed off by 

 the first rain. This insecticide is appropriate at any and all 

 times and places where minute insects are present, especially 

 all the varieties of the aphis family, — the weaker solution 

 on all tender foliage. The soap in the emulsion prevents 

 tin* use of Paris green or any compound of copper at the 

 same time. 



Having in a somewhat imperfect manner considered some 

 of the more important insects that threaten the interests of 

 the fruit grower, I come now to a class of enemies that at 

 times is a more serious menace than the other. I refer to 

 the various forms of fungous growths or diseases that have 

 in the past few summers been so increasingly destructive in 

 various ways by producing blights, mildews, rots, rusts, etc. 

 Foliage and fruits seem to be equally open to attack, and in 

 many cases I here is brought about an almost or quite total 

 failure of crops over extended sections. The seasons most 



