Early History of Liquid Applications. 9 



Reference is also made 1 to some experiments of E. Perley to 

 combat scale insects on trees. He found, after trying many sub- 

 stances, that the most effectual way of removing scale insects 

 from trees was to wash them with lye, or brine. Lime could be 

 used with the lye to advantage. The brine was made by using 



Common salt 1 quart. 



Water 2 gallons. 



This could be applied as soon as the salt was entirely dissolved. 



Thacher 2 regarded train-oil as a very powerful insecticide 

 against lice, but discouraged its use on account of its glutinous 

 character, it being on this account harmful to trees. 



Clay paint was perhaps one of the first remedies to be ap- 

 plied to plants. Several factors would encourage its use ; among 

 others may be mentioned the ease of its preparation, its cheap- 

 ness, and its adhesive properties. When properly used it forms 

 a thin, dense coating over the parts to which it is applied, and 

 it has the appearance of granting almost perfect protection to 

 the part covered. The Caledonian Horticultural Society, of 

 Scotland, recommended 3 its use, and, in fact, its application has 

 been very generally advised. It has also formed the basis of many 

 mixtures and only with the appearance of the remedies now in 

 common use has it fallen from favor. Only the purest clay 

 obtainable was selected, and it was generally strained so that 

 the coarser particles might be removed. 



A solution which appears to have been in common use for 

 the destruction of bed-bugs was also said 4 to be valuable as a 

 remedy for canker. " Canker " is an indefinite term which was 

 employed to denote almost any disease of the stems or trunks 

 of plants, whose origin was not understood ; the injury may 

 have been caused by insects or by fungi, or any of several other 

 causes. Whenever death and decay overtook any part of the 

 stem, it was generally termed canker. The solution which 

 would cure or check the disease was made by taking 



Corrosive sublimate 1 drachm. 



Spirits (alcohol) 1 gill. 



Soft water 4 quarts. 



1 J. Thacher, M.D., "American Orchardist," 1822, 109. 



2 Ibid. 108. s Ibid, second edition, 1825, 79. 

 4 "The Practical American Gardener," Baltimore, 1822, 170. 



