58 THE COXNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the field where the tests were made, nothing can be said about 

 the results at present. However, we are not yet ready to say 

 that dilute lime-sulphur wash will take the place of the Bor- 

 deaux mixture. On extensive operations, it would be better 

 to stay by that which has proven good until a cheaper or 

 better material is found. It must be emphasized that Bor- 

 deaux mixture and other fungicides arc not for the destruc- 

 tion of insects, hut for the prevention of plant diseases, and, 

 therefore, must be applied as a means of insurance before the 

 diseases come. 



The application of insecticides differs chiefly from that of 

 fungicides in the fact that the former must be applied when 

 the insects are present in order to kill them, either by acting 

 as internal poisons, as in the case of poisoning chewing insects, 

 like Potato Beetles, or killing sucking insects by direct con- 

 tact, as in destroying Scale insects, plant lice and other suck- 

 ing insects. Perhaps, the only exception we make or now re- 

 call to the statement that insecticides as remedies are not ap- 

 plied before the insects come, is in spraying with an arsenical 

 poison for the Codling Moth. This is done just after the blos- 

 soms fall, whether the insects be seen or not, because it is 

 known that this is the time when they will commence to make 

 their appearance. For this particular pest, the past year has 

 demonstrated the success of arsenate of lead, which has been 

 extensively used, two pounds to fifty gallons of water or Bor- 

 deaux, but which will, no doubt, prove efficient if used only 

 half as strong. 



A few elementary principles, such as some mentioned 

 above, and the following, are to be kept in mind, even in con- 

 sidering advanced methods. Among the elements is the subject 

 of differences in the kinds of insecticides according to the na- 

 ture of the feeding of the insect. Those which are suctorial must 

 be killed by the contact insecticides, such as the oils, soaps, de- 

 coctions, powders, caustic solutions or gas, while those which 

 feed by chewing the plant tissue, and are consequently called 

 "biting insects," such as the larvae or caterpillars, potato beetles, 

 and in fact all insects that feed externally on any part of the 

 plant by eating it away, are to be killed by applications of ar- 



