8 The Spraying of Plants. 



be used against the apple-tree borer, an insect that is desig- 

 nated as a " pernicious reptile " by the author. After digging 

 out the borer, fill the cavity about the base of the tree with 

 " flax rubbish, sea-weed, ashes, lime, sea-shells, sea-sand, mortar 

 rubbish, clay, tanner's bark, leather scraps, etc." I can find 

 no record of careful experiments having been made with these 

 articles, and it is not improbable that some of them were 

 recommended without actual trial, as is sometimes done even 

 to this day, simply on the ground that the remedy "ought" 

 to be of value. It is also stated, 1 quoting from the " Massachu- 

 setts Agricultural Reports," that Josiah Knapp, of Boston, in 

 1814, used air-slaked lime with success against the canker-worm. 

 He applied it thickly about the base of the tree. Later experi- 

 ments have shown that this is of little benefit in checking the 

 ravages of the insect. The use of air-slaked lime is said 2 to 

 have been successful in the destruction of slugs found on the foli- 

 age of fruit trees, and this is still one of the best remedies we 

 possess. Tar water also proved to have the power of instantly 

 killing the slugs with which it came in contact. It was pre- 

 pared by pouring water on tar and allowing it to stand for 

 two or three days. This gave a strong infusion and was said 

 to be very effective. 



Several remedies against caterpillars are also mentioned. 3 

 " It is asserted " that spirits of turpentine, or common fish-oil, 

 has the power of penetrating through the web made by these 

 insects and they are killed when the liquid comes in contact 

 with their bodies. Mr. Yates, of Albany, N.Y., made a mix- 

 ture which well illustrates the variety of materials used during 

 this period : 



Wormwood 1 handful. 



Rue 1 



Virginia tobacco 2 handfuls. 



Water 2 pailfuls. 



Boil the herbs in the water for half an hour, strain the 

 liquid, and it is then ready to be applied. Yates also said that 

 if sufficient tobacco is used alone, it will answer the same pur- 

 pose as the above, but not so well. 



1 J. Thacher, M.D., " American Orchardist," 1822, 92. 

 Ibid. 107. Ibid. 96. 



