132 THE, GREENING PICTORIAL SYSTEM OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



FORMULAS FOR DESTROYING INSECTS 



INSECTS are of two kinds, those that chew the fohage and those 

 that suck the sap with tube-hke mouth parts. In general the 

 the former are destroyed by poisons, and the latter by caustics, such 

 as kerosene or soap preparations. Some of the latter class can 

 also be despatched by suffocation, either with gases or insect 

 powders. 



AngIvE Worms. — Dissolve in one gallon of water a piece of 

 lime the size of an egg. When settled draw off clear water from 

 top and drench the soil with it. 



Aphides, Plant Lice or GrEEn Fly. — This is a minute 

 greenish insect that feeds on the tender part of plants. Reme- 

 dies : heavy spraying with cold water; hot water about 125 de- 

 grees; whale oil soap emulsion; kerosene emulsion; tobacco water; 

 tobacco dust; tobacco stems on ground in early spring; in window 

 gardens, Persian insect powder ; snuff. 



San Jose Scale. — A scale insect, chiefly on succulent shoots 

 of fruit trees, generally round, rarely elongated, 1-16 to 1-8 inches 

 in diameter, grayish white in color, very dangerous. If tree is 

 badly infected pull up and burn. If discovered early apply kero- 

 sene emulsion, or whale oil soap, 2 pounds to 1 gallon water. Be 

 thorough in application. Later use lime-sulphur solution. 



Gipsy-Moth. — Came from Europe in 1869, and is very de- 

 structive to elms. So far confined mostly to Massachusetts, where 

 enormous sums have been spent in combating it, but it is feared 

 that it will become a serious general pest. Spray with arsenate 

 of lead as soon as caterpillars hatch in the spring. 



Sow Bug. — A dull brown bug about size and shape of coffee 

 bean, prevalent in stiff soil and around and under decaying wood. 

 Burrows in the ground to eat the succulent roots of plants. Indoor 

 cultivators encircle their beds or benches with strips of about 40 

 parts sugar to one of Paris green. In the open, scrape some of 

 the dirt away from the roots of plants attacked by these bugs and 

 put in a handful or two of tobacco dust or soft coal soot, covering- 

 it over with earth. 



Tussock Moth. — Larva is a bright yellow and red cater- 

 pillar with tufts of hair at l:)oth ends. Attacks shade trees, par- 

 ticularly horse-chestnuts, during June. The first brood spins co- 

 coons, which mature early in July, and deposit glistening white, 

 frothy masses of eggs. Most effective remedy is to spray with 



arsenites early in June. This prevents the wingless females from 

 entering- the tree and laying eggs. Cocoons and eggs should be 

 burned whenever found, but it is hard to find them all. 



Fungous Diseases. — The fungi which appear as spots on 

 leaves, like blights and mildews, may be overcome by the applica- 

 tion of fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, Eau Celeste, am- 

 moniated copper, or lime-sulphur solution. Germ diseases of 

 plants have no practical remedies. When such appear, as they 

 very rarely do, the plants must be pulled up and burned. As 

 Bordeaux mixture is in the nature of a whitewash, it discolors the 

 foliage, consequently Eau Celeste, or lime-sulphur solution is often 

 preferable. 



KEROSENE EMULSION — HOW TO MAKE IT 



Dissolve one-half pound of hard soap in one gallon of boiling- 

 water; remove from stove and add to this solution two gallons of 

 kerosene, stirring it violently at the same time until it forms a 

 creamy mass. The best way is to use a force pump with a rather 

 small nozzle, and churn the substance back into, the same vessel. 

 It will thicken into a jelly-like substance on cooling and will keep 

 indefinitely. This forms a stock solution that must be diluted 

 before using. Use one part emulsion to fifteen parts of water. 



ARSENITES — HOW TO MIX THEM 



Arsenic is a stomach poison and is used against all insects that 

 chew the foliage or young wood. Arsenate of lead is best. Mix 

 one pound with 20 gallons of water. If Paris green or London 

 purple is used, mix at the rate of one pound to 200 gallons of water. 



CAUTION 



Spraying does not mean sprinkling. To be effective the solu- 

 tions must be applied in a fine fog-like spray. L^se a powerful 

 spray-pump fitted with a fine nozzle or atomizer. 



GUARANTEE 



The above formulas are guaranteed not to do any good if the}' 

 are not applied. But they are effective when properly used. 



