EXTRACTS AND DECOCTIONS OF DIFFERENT PLANTS. 187 



POKEWEED (Phytolacca decandra). Decoction of leaves and berries ; 

 also alcoholic extract from the dried root. No result. [R. W. Jones.] 

 " I did not obtain any effect with the decoction prepared by Messrs. 

 Jones and Roane, but a very small quantity prepared by Professor Bar- 

 nard had a decided effect, killing the young worms and seriously affect- 

 ing the older ones. It was applied undiluted, by means of a hand at- 

 omizer. The extract acted upon contact in a very short time, the young 

 worms falling in convulsion of short duration before dying. The old 

 worms had all recovered the second day. Professor Barnard afterwards 

 told me that this extract was a very strong one." [E. A. Schwarz. | 



Mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum). Powder from dried root dusted 

 on the worms J also applied stirred up in water. No result. [E. A. 

 Schwarz.] 



Quassia tea (2 ounces to one-half gallon of water). "Worms feeble 

 next morning, but alive." [0. Y. Riley.] 



Capsicum. — Mr. Schwarz experimented with this substance, and re- 

 ports as follows: 



September 18. — Undiluted capsicum was sprayed (with the hand atomizer) indoors 

 on some cotton worms of average size. No immediate effect visible and none one 

 hour afterwards, but twelve hours later all worms were dead. 



September 19. — The same experiment repeated in the field on worms on an isolated 

 plant. No effect visible after two hours, but six hours later all worms sprayed with 

 the substance were found dead. Applied capsicum diluted with five times the amount 

 of water. No effect visible after twelve hours, the worms feeding again on the leaves 

 sprayed with the mixture. The experiments were then discontinued on account of 

 the most unpleasant effect of the capsicunt upon myself. From my last experiment, 

 however, I do not believe that capsicum will bear much dilution without losing its 

 efficacy on the worms. It undoubtedly affects the worms by contact, though I am 

 unable to explain the exact manner in which it acts. 



None of these vegetable preparations appear to be hurtful to the 

 plants, though in several instances it has been observed that the leaves 

 became slightly scorched upon application during very hot, bright sun- 

 shine, especially in forenoon after the dew had disappeared. As the 

 same substances were subsequently or previously applied without injury 

 to the plants, there can hardly be any doubt that this injurious influ- 

 ence must be attributed to other conditions. While speaking of arsen- 

 ical poisons and kerosene, I mentioned that they are more liable to injure 

 the plants when applied during hot sunshine than during cloudy weather 

 or toward evening. In the case of these vegetable preparations the 

 same conditions doubtless prevail. 



As a remarkable fact in connection with these experiments, we would 

 still mention the slight effect produced on the worms by alcohol. Many 

 of the alcoholic extracts experimented with consisted of one-third alco- 

 hol, and had no effect whatever, even upon very young worms. Even 

 pure alcohol, when sprayed on the worms, only kills the youngest ones, 

 the average-sized ones soon recovering, while the full-grown ones are 

 hardly affected. 



