324 Gardening 
3 gallons of water with an ounce of soap will make a 
solution that will kill plant lice. This solution should 
be strained before using, to prevent clogging of the 
sprayer. 
Kerosene emulsion also may be used to kill aphids and 
other insects, but it is not so convenient to make up as 
the tobacco preparations. To prepare it, boil $ pound 
of laundry soap in 1 gallon of water until dissolved. 
Remove from the fire and add 2 gallons of kerosene. 
Pour the kerosene into the water slowly, adding small 
amounts at a time. Stir constantly and thoroughly, and 
in about 5 or 10 minutes the mixture will become thick 
and creamy. This stock solution may be kept stored for 
useatany time. Dilute with from ro to 20 parts of hot 
water, stir well, and use as a spray. Both the kerosene 
and the tobacco sprays should be cool when used on the 
plants. 
To be effective, these sprays must reach the body of the 
insect. They should be applied as a fine, mist-like spray, 
such as a good compressed-air spray pump will throw. 
The under surface of leaves and the inclosed portions of 
rolled-up leaves should be reached, so that all insects 
present will be touched by the spray. Several applica- 
tions of spray at intervals of 2 or 3 days may be required 
to rid plants of aphids. 
The common squash bug. The full-grown adult of the 
common squash bug is about 4 inch long; it is of a dirty 
' grayish-brown color above and a yellowish color beneath. 
It gives off, especially when handled, an offensive odor. 
The mouth parts are formed into a conspicuous beak 
about { inch long. This beak is characteristic of the 
