80 The Spraying of Plants. 



of water, more or less. This was applied by means of a hand 

 syringe, and a fairly uniform mixture was obtained by dashing 

 the contents of the filled syringe back into the vessel holding 

 the liquids. Rapid work was the price of a good mixture. This 

 practice is still followed to a certain extent in England, but is 

 rapidly giving way to more desirable methods. 



Soap, water, and kerosene can be so thoroughly mixed to- 

 gether that a permanent emulsion will be formed. Although 

 the product may be a comparatively new one, the idea which 

 led to its manufacture is not so recent. As has already 

 been said, soap and water formed the basis of many mixtures. 

 Records can be found showing that nearly all insecticides, 

 especially if they possess much value, have at one time or an- 

 other been used in connection with soapy solutions. It is sim- 

 ply carrying out the idea that if a certain remedy is effective, 

 its value will be increased if another substance also possessing 

 value be added to it. Thus we find that a correspondent of 

 the Gardener's Monthly says he had used soap water and crysylic 

 acid together, first mixing them thoroughly ; and carbolic acid 

 was applied in the same manner. 1 The insecticidal value of 

 kerosene once being known, it was very natural that the oil and 

 soap should be used together. The first record that I have 

 found of such a mixture appeared in February, 1875. 2 George 

 Cruickshank, of Whitinsville, Mass., here says that he had 

 been fighting the currant worm since 1866, but at first with 

 unsatisfactory results. " In May, 1870, I began using kerosene 

 with whale-oil soap, increasing the kerosene until it would kill 

 the worm and not injure the foliage of the plant. I used 5 

 pounds of whale-oil soap, and 1 wine quart of kerosene to 

 25 gallons of soft water to mix. Stir the soap and kero- 

 sene together till thoroughly mixed ; add two pails of hot 

 water, stir till the soap is dissolved, then add the balance of 

 cold water and it is ready for use. Apply with a syringe with 

 /orce, in bright sunshine. . . . Where the kerosene and soap 

 was used, I had no worms after two years. In 1873 I had a 

 barrel of the liquid all mixed, and ready for use by the usual 

 time the worm makes his appearance, but could find no worms 

 to use it on." In June of the same year a similar note ap- 



1 " T. A." in Gardener's Monthly, 1868, Jan. 11. 

 > lUd. 1875, Feb. 45. 



