General Notices. 697 



beetle which destroys the young shoots of various shrubs and plants in 

 the spring, at the time they are bursting. I am happy to say that we have 

 succeeded in our object beyond our expectation, in producing a solution 

 free from all poisonous or pernicious matter : the contents of it are so 

 harmless that it may be used with the greatest safety upon the most 

 delicate plant or fruit. As the production of this mixture has cost us 

 some considerable labour and expense, we intend to confine the manu- 

 facture of it to ourselves. We have been able to bring it into a very 

 portable compass, and this effect subserves the sending of it to any distance 

 without an inconvenient expense, insomuch that one gallon, when diluted 

 with twenty gallons of water, will be sufficiently strong for use, and in 

 general it may be applied with the garden engine or syringe. The con- 

 servatory or green-house, when it is applied to the plants in them, should 

 be shut up close, and rendered a little warm, and the evening be preferred 

 for the time of making the application. This may be repeated as often as 

 it is thought necessary, for it will be generally Ibund that the insects will 

 not disappear rapidly, but they, particulai'ly the green fly, will leave the 

 plants by degrees, while the influence of the applied mixture on the plants 

 themselves will be such as to greatly promote their growth, and the pro- 

 duction of a healthy bloom on their foliage. The cost of one gallon will 

 not amount to more than 1^, 6cl. It is not our intention to supply it to 

 the public until it has been tried by some one for two or three months 

 previous, as it requires more time to destroy some insects than others, 

 such as the scale-like ones. We are desirous to give any individual an 

 opportunity to subject our preparation to a fair trial for two or three 

 months, and shall be extremely happy to supply any person with a 

 quantity sufficient for a trial of its merits, gratis, and with directions. 

 Should you think it desirable to make a trial, perhaps some one near you, 

 through your recommendation, might be inclined to prove its effects, so 

 that you might see the effects of it personally. The solution, to answer 

 the above statements, will require to be made up in three distinct portions, 

 so as to act upon the whole of the different insects. Should you think 

 our lahours worthy of your notice, we shall be extremely happy to forward 

 any other information that lies in our power along with the solution. We 

 remain. Sir, yours, &c. — WiUiam Taylor and James Rollins. 9. Richmond 

 Terrace, Liverpool, November 26. 1832. 



It was a long time before we had an opportunity of getting the value of 

 the liquid sent put to the test, but at last we found one at Gunnersbury, 

 the gardens of which have been lately put under the direction of Mr. Mills, 

 the author of a valuable paper on the cucumber, published in an early 

 volume of the Trans. Hort. Soc, and quoted in our Encyc. of Gar d, Mr. 

 Mills's letter is as follows : — 



" Sir, Agreeably to your wish, I herewith send you the result of the 

 experiments made with Taylor and RoUins's mixture, which you were so 

 kind as to send me. I tried it, in the state in which I received it, on a 

 pine fruit infested with the scale, with a syringe, and made the fruit quite 

 wet all over; it killed the scale, and I did not perceive that it injured 

 the fruit. I used it, reduced in strength, as recommended, syringing with 

 it the pine plants all over, every other day, but it did not appear strong 

 enough in that state to destroy the scale. I also syringed with it, reduced 

 as recommended, plants of the Thunberg/a alata, infested with the red 

 spider : it did not kill them. I soaked two crowns of Providence pine 

 twelve hours in the liquid as received, and it killed the crowns. I think 

 if about one gallon were mixed with ten gallons of water, it would not be 

 too strong for the most tender plants : I am trying it in that state, and shall 

 have much pleasure in sending you the result. On the whole, I think it 

 likely to be useful ; and wish well to Mr, Taylor and Mr, Rollins for 



