188 HORTICULTURIST'S RULE-BOOK. 



6. Bisulphite of soda, ounce of the pure, dry, commercial 

 article, to a gallon of water, to which is added 4 ounces of 

 alcohol, makes a good preservative. It is best to dissolve the 

 bisulphite in a half pint of water, before adding the remainder 

 of the water and the alcohol. Filter if necessary. The alco- 

 hol is added to prevent the fruit from bursting. 



7. Pure kerosene is excellent in which to preserve straw- 

 berries and blackcap raspberries. Be sure that no drops of 

 water adhere to the fruits before they are placed in the oil. 



8. Alcohol preserves fruits almost perfectly, except that it 

 destroys the color. High-grade alcohol is usually diluted one- 

 half with pure water before using. 



9. Formic acid is an excellent preservative, particularly for 

 pulpy and colored fruits. The commercial formalin is gener- 

 ally used, in 2 or 3 per cent solution, usually the latter 

 strength. Formalin may be added to alcohol (8). 



4. Collecting and Preserving Insects. 



Flying insects are caught in a net made of mosquito-bar, 

 after the fashion of the minnow-net. The material is made into 

 a bag about a yard deep, and about a foot in width at the top. 

 The opening is fastened upon a wire hoop, which is secured to 

 a pole as a broomstick. Insects are killed by placing them in 

 a "cyanide-bottle." This is prepared by placing 2 or 3 lumps 

 of cyanide of potassium the size of a quail's egg in a museum- 

 bottle or glass jar, covering the lumps with dry plaster of Paris, 

 and then adding just enough water to make the plaster set. 

 The fumes of the poison coming through the plaster quickly kill 

 the insects. Keep the bottle corked. The cyanide is very 

 poisonous and the fumes should not be inhaled. A very broad- 

 mouthed bottle with glass stopple is necessary. Bugs and 

 beetles can be pinned and mounted as soon as they are dead. 

 It is customary to pin beetles through the right wing-cover, and 

 bugs as squash-bugs through the triangular space between 

 the wings. Butterflies, moths, bees, flies, etc., must be pressed 

 to preserve the wings. This is done by placing on a "setting- 

 board." This apparatus is a little trough with a crack at the 



