SECRETARY'S REPORT. 159 



(by actual experience if possible,) in order to take them in the 

 weakest and most accessible condition. 



Then, if caterpillars attacking trees, remove and burn the 

 eggs, or thoroughly soap the trees to prevent their being laid, 

 kill them if already laid, or hang bottles of sweetened water 

 about the trees to entrap and destroy the perfect moth. 



If borers in the trunk or branches, soap the bark, (soft-soap 

 made cold is, perhaps, the best preparation, and if mingled with 

 a strong decoction of tobacco it will not be less effective.) Dig 

 out the borers with knife or gouge, or pour boiling water, or 

 petroleum, into their holes, making sure that it reaches the 

 insect. 



If insects on the leaves or fruit, syringe the trees wdth any of 

 the preparations previously recommended, soap-suds, tobacco- 

 water, &c. Jar them frequently, giving the pigs and poultry a 

 chance to pick up and devour those which fall. Hang pieces of 

 cloth or paper dipped in kerosene, in the branches, renewing 

 them every few days. 



For insects upon roots and bulbs, sprinkle petroleum along 

 the row«, or water them with strong soap-suds ; for onions, 

 mingle common soot, or pyroligneous acid with the solution. 



For squash and cucumber vines, (fee, scatter paper-rags, saw- 

 dust, or other absorbent materials, soaked in kerosene, about the 

 hills, sprinkle the leaves with road dust, air-slacked lime, ashes, 

 or powdered herbs known to be offensive to the insects. The 

 Persian insect-powder, which has proved quite useful of late 

 years, is composed of the pulverized leaves and blossoms of a 

 species of fever-few, the Pyrethrum carneum, closely allied to 

 the common camomile. It would be really worthy of experi- 

 ment to collect, dry and powder the flowers of our common ox- * 

 eye daisy, or white weed, so common through the country, and 

 ascertain the effect upon insects and slugs which attack our 

 broad-leaved plants, as well as upon the moths which infest furs 

 and woollen cloths. 



Chloride of lime, freely scattered upon the ground among 

 growing vegetables, gives off a gas which is extremely noxious 

 to most insects, without injuring the plants. Coal tar is also 

 quite serviceable in some cases. 



For field crops, the most feasible plan is, by rotation, to starve 

 out the destructive millions that prey upon one variety, devoting 



