WHEN TO APPLY KEROSENE EMULSION. 19 



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THE BE8T TREATMENT. 



Of the many insecticides used, kerosene emulsion has been found 

 to be the most satisfactory remedy for the tobacco thrips. Tobacco 



decoction in a concentrated strength seems to be effective, but, because 

 of the amount of material necessary and the labor involved in it- prep- 

 aration, its use is less satisfactory. Rose-leaf insecticide, while effect- 

 ive in concentrated strengths, is impractical because of its greater 

 expense as compared with the emulsion. The advantages of kerosene 

 emulsion are its destructive power against the insects and it- low cosl 

 when compared with other possible remedies. Its one disadvantage 

 lies in the fact that it can not be applied while the sun is shining. 

 This has been overcome by night applications, as herein described. 



It was suggested that the kerosene might affect the aroma of the 

 cigar. Cigars wrapped with sprayed tobacco, however, fail to give 

 evidence of any such effect. Very particular attention was paid to 

 this point, but no traces whatever of the kerosene in either the leaf or 

 the cigar could be detected. 



HOW TO MAKE KEROSENE EMULSION. 



The formula heretofore given, namely, '1 gallons of kerosene, 1 aal- 



B •/ 7 B r~ 



ion water, and one-half pound of soap, is followed when hard soap 

 is used. The soap should be cut into fine shavings and dissolved in 

 the gallon of boiling water. The water should then be added to the 

 kerosene while still hot and churned by means of a force pump, pump- 

 ing it back into the same vessel for ten minutes. When thoroughly 



B B 



emulsified it has a creamy appearance and upon cooling becomes much 

 thicker. 



A certain naphtha soft soap is now manufactured that will dis- 

 solve readily and by the use of which the emulsion can be made with- 

 out heat. When this soap is used, a pint will replace the hard soap 

 in the formula. This naphtha soap has the advantage that it cm be 

 made up at short notice and at any place needed. In lots of LOO 

 pounds it can be obtained at 3| cents per pound. Whale-oil soap has 

 been used to replace hard soap in the formula, but seems to line very 

 little advantage oxer hard soap. 



When making the emulsion, care should be taken that it is com- 

 pletely emulsified. Each particle of the kerosene must be surrounded 

 by a film of soap, and unless this be brought about by thorough 

 churning with the force pump the kerosene, being free. \\ i'l not mix 

 with the water, but will rise to the surface and, a- the sprayer be- 

 come- nearly empty, will be forced out in the -pray and burn the 

 foliage. 



WHEN TO UMM.Y THE EMULSION. 



The emulsion should be applied first when the plants are in the 

 seed bed. A number of applications will be advisable in order that 



