368 INSECTICIDES, FUNGICIDES, AND WEED KILLERS. 



Action on Plants. — A solution of antinonnine of 0"1-0"125 per 

 cent is without action on plants. When a stronger solution has to 

 be used on the tender parts of plants, it suffices to follow up the treat- 

 ment by washing twenty-four hours afterwards to prevent its action 

 on the plant. 



Action on Insects. — ^Antinonnine is poisonous to insects. A 

 small dose suffices to kill them ; it also acts on insects and soft-skinned 

 larvai ; cochineals, and certain carapaceous insects, such as weevils, 

 resist it (Hollrung). It is very poisonous to caterpillars, the larvae of 

 the tenthredes (saw-flies), Nematus Rlbesi, Thorsen (gooseberry saw- 

 fly), Lophyrus rufus (Schoyen), the thrips of grain crops, acari, plant 

 lice (Taschenberg), in doses of 0"125 per cent to 0"30 per cent. 



Polyjiorus vaporarius, Polyj^orus destructor, Trametes cryptarum, 

 or Poly poms Pini, Pers. (red rot of the pine). — Antinonnine has been 

 found an excellent means of destroying these fungi. Dilute solutions, 

 only containing 0'065 per cent of antinonnine, still produce the desired 

 effect. 



Liparis Monaca, L. (the black arch moth which attacks pines), 

 (French and German syn. Nonne). — Antinonnine is regarded as a 

 specific against the caterpillar of the Nonne. An antinonnine solution 

 of 0-33 per cent acts in a categoric manner after twelve to twenty-four 

 hours ; 66 per cent of the caterpillars treated were killed after twenty- 

 four hours. By increasing the dose of soap the action is intensi- 

 fied. 



Charaas graminis (antler moth or grass moth). — Keuter reports 

 the good effect of a solution of \ lb. antinonnine and 1^ lb. soap in 

 10 gallons of \vater, against the caterpillar of this noctua at the time 

 when it appears in meadows. 



Mice and Eats. — Antinonnine is a violent poison to rodents ; 0"5 

 gramme kills a rabbit. For rats and mice a mixture is prepared of 10 

 parts of sausage grease and 1 part of sugared antinonnine. Mice die 

 after having absorbed 0-001 gramme, and rats after ingestion of 0-02 

 gramme of antinonnine. It suffices to soak pieces of bread with a 

 solution of sugared antinonnine, and to place it in winter in their 

 holes (V. Tubeuf). 



/CH3(1) 



140. Thymol, C,.H.;^C3H-(4). — Preparation.— Thymol ispresent 

 ■ \0H(3) 

 in oil of thyme. To isolate it the oil of thyme is agitated in a 

 strong solution of soda. The thymol is dissolved in the alkali. 

 This liquid is separated by decantation from the supernatant cumene 

 and thymene. The hquid obtained is diluted and saturated by hydro- 

 chloric acid which precipitates the thymol. 



Properties. — In the pure state it forms colourless, crystalline 

 lamellye, with a sharp and peppery taste. It is but slightly soluble in 

 water (1 in 1000), more readily soluble in alcohol and alkaline lyes. 

 It precipitates albumen and possesses remarkable antiseptic properties. 



Hypomyces Perniciosus, Magnus (mole disease of the mushroom). 

 — Constantin and Dufour recommend a solution of 0-25 per cent to 

 overcome the mole when the disease appears ; it is necessary to remove 



