300 
PREPARATION OF THE PLANTS FOR USE. 
The United States Report continues: “In regard to manufac- 
turing the powder, the flower-heads e be gathered during 
n 
the lee ming tis Raned the stalks may be Sat “witha about 
ü 
w 
weight. kent care must be taken not to expose the flowers to 
moisture, or the rays of the sun, or still less to artificial heat. 
zation in large quantities is best done by those who make a business 
of it, and have special mill facilities. Lehn & Fink, of New York, 
have furnished us with the most satisfactory powder. For his 
own use, the farmer can pulverize s mes quantities by the simple 
method of pounding the flowers ina mortar. It is necessary that 
the mortar be closed, and a piece of Tolha through which the 
pestle mm such asis generally used in pulverizing detienen 
substances in a laboratory, wil answer. The quantity to be 
pllverised should not exceed one pound at a time, thus avoiding 
too DEN. a degree of heat, which would be injurious to the quality 
ofthe powder. The pu ulverization being deemed sufficient, the 
kabotan f is sifted through a silk sieve, and then the remainder 
with a new addition of flowers, is put in the mortar and pulverized 
“The best vessels for keeping the powder are fruit jars with 
patent covers, or any other perfectly tight glass vessel or tin box.” 
(Pp. 167-168). 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. 
In the Botanical Magazine, t. 6781, the following rele E 
are given respecting the efficacy of these insect powder 
“Tt appears that the powder of both species is XT as a 
general insecticide, especially in a liquid solution, but that it a 
not a universal remedy, and has serious disadv: vantages. Of t 
advantages the most notable is that it is a specific in the case pe 
aphides, house flies, and mosquitoes Ag gnats), and if used with 
pa 
ir of ordinary bellows is very effectual in killing the 
commoner insects that infest icu in rooms uses. The 
powder burnt is not disagreeable to smell, and very effectual in 
powder diluted in water, 2 OMS solution in water, and the 
decoction in water, are all m t useful in cases where the powder 
powdering the upper side of a leaf has no effect on an insect on 
the under side. More important still are ‘ihe facts that it has no 
