904 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



crevices, still busily at work ; but, on the occurrence of a rainy day, which, I 

 suppose, has inundated them with the poisonous fluid, they have been found 

 all dead. I have seen a small tree, that before seemed to languish, thrive 

 remarkably in the second season following the application of the acid ; a proof, 

 at least, that it is not injurious to vegetation. This fluid has the recom- 

 mendation of being devoid of the offensive odour of some others that have been 

 used for the purpose ; and, so tar from being unsightly, as lime is, no one could 

 discern that an application of it had been made." (G. M., vol. ix. p. 337.) 



The following composition has been found effectually to destroy the woolly 

 aphis on apple trees in Kent. Take two quarts of vegetable tar, half an ounce 

 of corrosive sublimate, half an ounce of spirit of salt, and one gill of spirit of 

 hartshorn. The sublimate must be pounded in a marble mortar, adding the 

 spirit of salt by degrees, to dissolve the mercury ; next add the hartshorn, 

 rubbing all together until completely mixed. Provide an earthen glazed 

 pipkin, and put in the poisonous liquid ; add the tar by degrees, constantly 

 stirring it to prevent its running over. Then take an old painter's brush, and 

 cover all the diseased parts with the mixture; which will adhere, and give way 

 to nothing but the growing wood and bark. It is necessary to use unglazed 

 earthenware, as the mercury will corrode metal or wood. Wherever this 

 mixture is applied, it will infallibly destroy the aphis, or any other insect, and 

 prevent emigrants from infested trees from lodging on the wounded parts, or 

 feeding on the juices of the young growing bark. Notwithstanding its poison- 

 ous quality, no person need be afraid of any mischief to any domestic animal, 

 as the noxious smell and taste of the tar prevents every danger. Before 

 applying the mixture, scrape off, with a bluntish instrument, all lichens, and 

 loose or rotten bark, from the stems and branches ; then pare off the edges 

 of the cankered holes, and other excrescences in which it is possible for the 

 aphis, or any other insect, to be lodged ; and, with a woodman's racer, gouge, 

 and chisel, scoop out all the cankered and rotten wood, until the clean live 

 surface, at the bottom of each wounded part, is found. (Gard. Mag., vol. ii. 

 p. 166.) Tar, diluted with a little oil of turpentine, it is said, will have the 

 same effect as the above mixture; and will not, like it, run the risk of being 

 injurious to vegetation. 



The Sublimate of Tar, applied to the part affected with the woolly aphis, by a 

 common painter's brush, is said to be an effectual mode of eradicating the 

 insect. Train oil, applied in a similar manner, with a stiff-haired brush, has 

 also been found effectual. What the hairs of the brush do not stab to death, 

 the oil tends to kill by suffocation, rendering impervious to the admission of 

 air those breathing-holes in the sides of insects by which their respiration is 

 effected. In the same way, spirits of turpentine have been found completely 

 effectual ; and also strong old urine. Oil and soot, well mixed together, form 

 another somewhat similar remedy ; and lime-water, soot and salt, strong 

 tobacco-water, soapsuds, and soft soap, have been recommended for the same 

 purpose. (Gard. Mag., vol. ii. p. 49, 50., and vol. ix. p. 337.) Much of the 

 success attending the use of any composition, must necessarily depend 

 on its being carefully and thoroughly applied, and on the repetition of the 

 process wherever the insects reappear. (Ibid.) In some orchards and nur- 

 series, no other application than brushing off the insect with common water, 

 and a stiff painter's brush, is made use of; and, by persevering in doing this 

 all the summer, whenever the slightest indication of the insect appears, the 

 trees may be kept quite clean. 



The Woolly Aphis a l lacks the Roots of Trees, as well as their trunks and 

 branches; and it would seem more difficult to destroy them in the former 

 situation than in the latter. Mr. Baron {Gard. Mag., vol. ix. p. 398.), 

 baring some currant trees affected at the roots with the woolly aphis, opened 

 the earth round the stem, so as to lay bare the uppermost roots ; washed the 

 with strong soapsuds, and filled up the opening round it with the same 

 mixture, stirring it with the broom, so as to form a pool of mud. This 

 lalfj de troyed the insect on the roots. 





