56' TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



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 corresponding with Messrs. Downer, Austin & Co., on the difference 

 in its appearance, they say, "whale oil soap varies much in its relative 

 strength, the article not being made as soap, but being formed in our pro- 

 cess of bleaching oil ; when it is of very sharp taste and dark appearance, 

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

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

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

 say two pounds to thirteen gallons of water. 



31ode of preparation. — Take whatever quantity of soap you wish to pre- 

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

 state 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 rose of the syr- 

 inge ; 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 practicable, 

 and be sure that every part of the leaves are well saturated with the liquid ; 

 what falls to the ground in application will do good in destroying the 

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

 with profusion ; a hogshead of one hundred and thirty-six gallons costs 

 forty-five cents, not quite four mills per gallon. Early in the morning, or 

 in the evening, 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 ben- 

 efit 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. 



Aphis, 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, peach trees, and many other plants. The Black Fly, a 

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

 the cherry and the snow-ball tree. I have never known any positive cure 

 for the effects of this insect, until this time. 



Trvo 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 gardeners. 



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

 erly applied to all parts of the foliage ; the eggs of most insects continue 

 to hatch in rotation during their season ; to keep the plants perfectly clean, 

 it will be necessary to dress them two or three times. 



