ALCOHOL- ARSENIC CLA YSALT 401 



to try it on one plant only, and that, of course, the worst in the 

 collection affected. If the preparation is too strong or too weak, 

 the truth will be declared by the state of the plant within twenty- 

 four hours; thus a little caution may save a great loss. Another 

 good rule is to employ the several preparations rather less powerful 

 than advised, until experience has been gained, for we have not only 

 the strength of the medicine to consider, but the management of 

 the patient before and after it is administered. It is above all things 

 important to be thorough in the cleansing of plants, for they succumb 

 rapidly to the attacks of insects, and should be effectually and 

 promptly cleaned or consigned to the fire ; if left in a foul state they 

 spread the infection to all around. 



Several very excellent preparations are now offered for the exter- 

 mination of insect plagues. The following articles are also of value 

 for the same purpose. 



ALCOHOL is a deadly poison to every species of insect, and, 

 diluted with water, might often be employed to advantage. Common 

 methylated spirit, if carefully used, is one of the cheapest of insecti- 

 cides, and may be made the more efficacious by the addition of 

 camphor. 



ARSENIC is a deadly and dangerous mineral, that may be em- 

 ployed with great advantage by a careful person for the destruction 

 of Mice, Rats, and Crickets. It should be mixed in small quantities 

 with dry oatmeal and powdered sugar, and, to avoid injury to any, 

 except the animals intended to be killed, it must be placed in the runs 

 under cover of a large hollow tile, or in a dry drain-pipe, or in some 

 other way rendered inaccessible to any except burrowing animals. 



CLAY is largely used to mix with various washes, to give them 

 the consistence of paint. Now clay has a virtue of its own, and is 

 an effectual insecticide, for when the soft body of an Aphis is 

 covered with wet clay, its death is certain. 



SALT may be usefully employed in a variety of ways, but needs 

 care because it is a destroyer of vegetation. Ground vermin may 

 be eradicated by sowing salt on the surface, and in such a case it 

 would be well to wait until rain has fallen before sowing or planting. 

 The larvae of the Tipulae are all easily destroyed by salt, but the 

 difficulty is to apply it without at the same time injuring the crop 



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