Early History of Liquid Applications. 7 



sand round the roots of trees in the spring; or throwing 

 powdered quicklime, or soot, over the trees when they are wet; 

 or sprinkling them, about the beginning of June, with sea 

 water, or water in which wormwood, or walnut leaves, have 

 been boiled; or with an infusion of elder, from which I 

 should entertain some hope of success. The liquid may be 

 safely applied to all the parts of a tree by a large wooden syr- 

 inge, or squirt. 



" I should suppose that the best time for making trial of these 

 methods would be soon after the worms are hatched : for at 

 that stage of their existence they are tender, and the more 

 easily killed. Sometimes a frost happening at this season has 

 destroyed them. This I am told was the case in some places 

 in the year 1794." 



Forsyth l recommended the following mixture for the de- 

 struction of aphis : 



Unslaked lime 2 peck. 



Water 32 gallons. 



Allow this to stand three or four days, stirring two or three 

 times per day. It was applied by means of a syringe. He 

 recommended 2 the same mixture for the destruction of acarus, 

 or red spider, but said that pure water would also answer the 

 purpose. For plants in hothouses the use of pure water alone 

 was advised. Against insects on melons, however, he said 3 that 

 the plants should first be washed with water, and then again 

 washed with a mixture of urine and soap-suds, using a rag. 

 It is also stated 4 that several English nurserymen used train- 

 [whale-] oil against coccus, or scale insects on plants. It was 

 applied with a brush, but the author claims that it was not an 

 efficient remedy. Nevertheless it was extensively used in some 

 parts of England. 



During the early years of this century a great many sub- 

 stances were recommended both in this country and in Europe 

 for the destruction of the enemies of cultivated plants. 

 Mention 5 is made of the following articles which were to 



1 William Forsyth, " A Treatise on Culture and Management of Fruit Trees," 

 American edition edited by William Cobbett, 1802, 173. 



2 Ibid. 174. Ibid. 176. * Ibid. 179. 

 6 J. Thacher, M.D., " American Orchardist," 1822, 104. 



