STRYCHNINE. 381 



Diplosis violicola, Coq. — It is killed in the same way (Chittenden). ^ 

 Ants. — Taschenl)erg recomnaends to kill them with a mixture of 

 pyrethra powder and naphthalene. Mohr advises his extract (p. 378) 

 at the rate of 30-35 fluid oz., diluted with 250 fluid oz. of water and 

 poured on the ant nest in the morning before the ants come out. In 

 light soils and with large ant nests, it is necessary to pour 1-2 litres 

 of this liquor, say 1 to 2 quarts. 



Schizoneura lanitjera, Hausm. (woolly aphis).— Grossbauer re- 

 commends to destroy this parasite with a mixture of soft soap 7| lb., 

 pyrethra powder 2^ lb., in 100 gallons of water. Muller found this 

 liquor less energetic than Nessler's insecticide at ^\. 



Naked Plant Lice. — According to the experiments of Fleischer, 

 the soapy extract kills them easily. Hotter recommends the powder, 

 because it can penetrate into the twisted, rolled, and deformed leaves 

 which serve as a refuge to many plant lice and surely reach the latter. 

 Psyllas and PhytojJtideH (gall mites) are destroyed in the same 

 way. 



Shigs. — Mohr recommends his extract No. 2 (p. 378) to kill slugs. 

 147. Strychnine. — Strychnine is an alkaloid which is contained 

 in certain plants such as the nux vomica tree, which yields nux 

 vomica, and the walnut-tree. 



Vse.Spilographa Gerasi, F. (cherry-tree fly). — Water the soil 

 around the trees after the fall of all the wormy cherries with a hot 

 ■decoction of walnut leaves that kills the gi'ubs buried at a slight depth 

 in the soil (Taschenberg). 



Plant Lice. — Kasebier recommends the following liquor to get 

 quit of these lice : Make an extract of rasped nux vomica nuts by 

 passing them three to four times into hot water, then letting them 

 macerate some hours. To preserve this extract, ^l per cent of de- 

 natured alcohol (meth. spirit) is added to it when about to be used ; to 

 strengthen its action 1 per cent of " sapocarbol " is added to it. No 

 insect, it would appear, frequents a tree sprayed with this liquid 

 insecticide. 



Phylloxera vastatrix, Planch, (phylloxera of the vine). — Syringing 

 with strychnine solutions (Mourgue's process) had no more effect on 

 this louse than an infusion of \ lb. of walnut leaves in a gallon of water 

 (Chevalier's process, 1872), or of \ lb. of walnut leaves in a gallon of 

 water (Panet's process, 1872). 



Peach and Gooseberry Aphis {Aphis persica). — An infusion of nut 

 leaves collected in autumn destroys these plant lice, especially when it 

 is strengthened by a little soap. Mohr advises to spray as soon as the 

 leaves begin to curl and twist ; he sprays twice. 



Sparroics, — Granivorous birds may be prevented from devouring 

 corn-seed by dipping the latter into a bath containing strychnine ; dis- 

 solve 10-15 grammes (say h to ^ oz.) of strychnine in the water 

 required to cover entirely 1 kilogramme (2*2 lb.) of seed ; steep the 

 grain for two hours, stirring occasionally, then withdraw it and dry it. 

 Kruger remarks that if the birds devour it the first day none reappear 

 the following days, 



Talpa europea (mole). — To destroy moles it suffices to cut up earth- 



