Early History of Liquid Applications. 13 



These ingredients were well mixed together and were stirred 

 three or four times a day. This was done for several days, and 

 then some finely sifted quicklime was added, until the whole 

 assumed the consistency of paint. Mearns said the farmyard 

 drainage might be replaced by tobacco juice, and the lime by soot. 

 This mixture was recommended for the destruction of insects. 



The use of pungent and acrid herbs long continued to be 

 recommended for the same purpose. T. Bridgeman, among 

 other remedies, speaks l of burdock leaves as being effective in 

 preventing injury from the attacks of the "turnip and cabbage 

 fly." He recommends preparing hogsheads full of the infusions 

 of this and other herbs, and then sprinkling the plants with 

 the liquor. For the annoyance or destruction of insects on fruit 

 trees he advises the use of decoctions made of walnut leaves, as 

 well as those of tobacco and elder; the use of pepper, soot, 

 sulphur, and similar substances are also mentioned as having 

 value, their action being perhaps more particularly the annoy- 

 ance of the pest than its destruction. 



White hellebore was also commonly recommended as early 

 as 1842, although it did not prove of value in the hands of 

 all growers. It was used particularly to destroy worms on 

 gooseberry plants, and was applied in the form of a powder or 

 in pure water, or when mixed with soap-suds. 2 It does not 

 appear to have been used to any considerable extent in America 

 until after the introduction of this gooseberry saw-fly, or as 

 it is here known, the imported currant worm, which occurred 

 sometime before 1858, at which time its presence was first 

 noticed. Joseph Harris is said to have been the first to recom- 

 mend the use of hellebore in America, 3 after he had been using 

 it successfully for four years. P. Barry used it mixed with 

 water, and applied the liquid to his plants by means of a 

 syringe, one-half pound being used in a pail of water. 



A rather unusual solution was used by J. Murray 4 against 

 mildew on peach trees. He applied 



Sulphur 2 pounds. 



Alcohol 1 quart. 



1 Bridgeman, "The Young Gardener's Assistant," seventh edition, 183T, 11 



2 Gardeners' Chronicle, 1842, June 18, 397. 



3 Country Gentleman, 1865, June 29, 413. 



4 Gardeners' Chronicle, 1841, Aug. 21, 550 



