WASHES TO DESTROY RKD SPIDEE. 65 



satisfactory to find that our useful Anti-pest is so nearly related to 

 Professor Riley's ' Kerosine Emulsion.' " 



This "Kerosine Emulsion" has been found in the United States 

 to be a thoroughly effective remedy for a very similar kind of " Red 

 Spider" infestation, especially "when a small quantity of flowers of 

 sulphur has been added." 



One of the recipes given by the Department of Agriculture of the 

 U.S.A. for the preparation of Kerosine Emulsion is as follows: — Add 

 one gallon of water, in whicli a quarter of a pound of soft-soap (or 

 other coarse soap if preferred) has been dissolved, boiling or hot, to 

 two gallons of mineral oil, then churn the mixture by action of a 

 syringe, or pump, for about ten minutes to the consistency of cream, 

 and if this is properly done, the ingredients will not separate after 

 standing. For use as a wash or syringing, the "Emulsion" must be 

 diluted with at least nine gallons of water to each gallon of Emulsion. 



This mixture of soft-soap and kerosine, or paraffin, or other 

 mineral oil, is exceedingly useful for insect destruction ; possibly, or 

 probably, no other insecticide ranks with it as a generally serviceable 

 application, if it can hut be got to remain as a mixture. This, however, 

 is the difficulty. If the soap-wash and oil are not so thoroughly 

 blended in mixing that they remain permanently incorporated, the 

 application may do more harm than good. The soap-washes may or 

 may not answer the purposes for which they were applied, but the 

 paraffin oil, running by itself on the leafage, is almost sure to do 

 mischief. Even in the U.S.A., where this Emulsion is so valued, the 

 difficulty of mixing it properly is an acknowledged drawback, and it is 

 still more so in this country. It can be learnt by a lesson, but for 

 those who have not this opportunity, or (like myself) have not acquired 

 the proper knack without being shown, I believe that the "Anti-pest" 

 referred to by Sir J. Stewart Richardson is a safer application. This 

 is very nearly indeed allied to the Kerosine Emulsion in nature of its 

 ingredients, and is sold by Messrs. Morris, Little & Son, Doncaster, in 

 form only needing diluting with water to be at once fit for use. 



The following note as to serviceableness of the "Emulsion," and 

 especially of it when used hot, was sent me on the 25th of March by 

 Mr. J. Masters, of Evesham, from whom observations on details of 

 fruit-growing are of much value. After remarking on the serious 

 nature of the "Red Spider" infestation, Mr. Masters observed: — "We 

 have found here that nothing has proved more efl'ective than the 

 ' Kerosine Emulsion,' as recommended in your ' Manual ' of 1890, 

 pages 348 — 349. We have found that it is best to apply the prepara- 

 tion to the bushes hot, say 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We boil 

 the water, in which we put the Emulsion in the proportion recom- 

 mended ; in this state we cart it away to our gardens in a barrel, and 



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