SOAP SOLUTIONS 45 



Kerosene Emulsion. This compound has been largely super- 

 seded by soap solutions and tobacco extracts, because to be a safe 

 agent it must be made and used correctly; if not, the kerosene, 

 separating from the emulsion, gathers at the top of the mixture, 

 and when the spray pump draws this layer off and applies it to 

 foliage severe burning is the result. The approved formula for 

 kerosene emulsion is: One pound soap, dissolved in two gallons of 

 hot soft water. When boiling hot this is taken from the fire and 

 four gallons of cheap kerosene added, the mixture being at once 

 churned by means of a force pump until a creamy, white emulsion 

 is formed. This is the stock solution. For summer spraying add 

 thirty-four gallons of water to this; for dormant or winter spraying 

 add from ten to fourteen gallons of water. Keep the liquid well 

 agitated while spraying. 



Avoid any mechanical mixture of oil and water; and never use 

 pumps advertised as mixing oil and water mechanically. In using 

 any dormant or winter spray it should not be applied in severe 

 weather; mother words, freezing of the spray on the tree should be 

 guarded against. 



Crude Oil Emulsion. Made in the same way as the above, 

 employing crude petroleum in place of kerosene. A 20 per cent 

 solution is used as a dormant spray against scale insects. 



Distillate Emulsion. Thirty pounds whale oil or fish oil soap 

 dissolved in twenty gallons of water by boiling. Add twenty 

 gallons of distillate and churn while hot. When wanted for use, 

 add 20 gallons of water to every 1 gallon of stock. 



Lime-sulfur. While this may be made at home, it is one of the 

 few proprietary compounds which can best be purchased. Com- 

 plete directions for use are given on containers. Primarily a fungi- 

 cide, it forms an excellent insecticide for scale insects and many 

 other pests. It can be used both as a dormant spray and, much 

 reduced by the addition of water, as a summer insecticide or fungi- 

 cide. Combined with arsenate of lead, it affords a means of preven- 

 tion for both codling moth or curculio injury and the apple 

 scab. It is to be regarded as one of the most useful agents in the 

 work of the orchardist. The stock solution will stand a very low 

 temperature, possibly five or ten degrees above zero without 

 freezing. 



Soap Solutions. It is doubtful if true whale oil soap is on the 

 market at this time. If so, the price must be prohibitive. It 

 would be safer to assume that soap advertised as whale oil soap is 



