26 
February, 1891. 
soluble in water, the leaves soon take up 
the poison, and in a week or ten days the 
foliage drops from the tree. These sub- 
stances should never be applied to fruit 
trees until after the blossoms have fallen. 
The bees in gathering honey and pollen from 
the blossoms may become poisoned if ap- 
plied sooner, and thus injury done to our 
friends. Beekeepers often complain of the 
loss of an entire colony of bees from the 
carelessness of their neighbors in this 
respect. The arsenites have been re- 
commended as excellent remedies against 
the plum eureulio. From experiments 
carried on at this College the uniform good 
results obtained elsewhere have not been 
equally satisfactory here. It is not from 
lack of thoroughness, as gieat pains have 
been taken to do the work carefully and 
well. Dr. Weed, of Ohio, has practiced 
rliis method of warfare against the eureulio 
and reports saving the entire crop of fruit 
from destruction. 
HELLIBORE. 
This also belongs to the first class. It is 
a mild vegetable poison, and may be used 
with perfect freedom in the proportion of 
one ounce to ten gallons of water. As a 
specific against the larvae of saw-flies, such 
as the strawberry and currant slugs, the 
pear and rose slugs, nothing can be found 
that will be more productive of good results. 
Often two applications are necessary, in 
which case they should be made from one 
week to ten days apart. If the work be 
thorough, the readiness with which the 
insects are destroyed is startling. In treat- 
ing currant bushes the spray should be 
thrown upon the underside of the leaves as 
much as possible, especially those nearest 
the ground, as it is here that the “worms’’ 
first begin their work. This substance may 
be used in the form of a powder by dusting 
the leaves, when it should always be per- 
formed in the early morning or late in the 
evening, so that the moisture on the leaves 
will hold the powder. 
PYRETHRUM OR INSECT POWDER. 
To the second class of insecticides belongs 
Pyrethrum, Buhacli, Persian Insect Powder, 
or the insect powder of the shops. These 
terms are synonymous. Pyrethrum is a 
yellow powder manufactured from the 
flowers and stems of plants belonging to 
the genus known as Pyrethrum, hence its 
name. The active principle is a volatile oil 
which is given off when exposed to the air. 
It is this peculiar property that places it 
among the most important insecticides. It 
may be applied in the form of a powder by 
simply dusting over the plants, or a small 
hand bellows may be used. It seems to act 
as an anaesthetic, merely stupifying certain 
insects. It is used extensively against 
house-flies, by enticing the flies into a room, 
and simply dusting a small quantity of the 
powder. This should be done in the even- 
ing. In the morning the flies may be swept 
from the floor and burned. This operation 
if repeated a few times will effectually hold 
them in check. There is no danger from a 
too free use of the powder, as it is entirely 
harmless to man and the higher animals. 
As a remedy for the green cabbage '‘worm" 
or caterpillar it has proved satisfactory. 
To be most effectual it should be mixed 
with water, one ounce to ten gallons, or it 
may be used stronger as the case may 
require. It may be applied to cabbages 
with an ordinary watering-pot, and it is 
astonishing how quickly the “worms" will 
disappear. There is no more danger in 
using it in the liquid form than in the 
powdered. The powder costs about thirty 
cents a pound, and may be procured at any 
drug store. Care should always be taken 
to get that which is fresh, as it loses 
strength by exposure. 
TOBACCO. 
The use of tobacco as an insecticide is 
rapidly gaining favor among gardeners and 
florists. A decoction made from the stems 
of refuse tobacco is an excellent remedy for 
our insect foes. The decoction is made by 
steeping a pound of tobacco (the poorer 
the better, as the cheaper the grade the 
more poison it contains), in two gallons of 
water. After allowing this to cool, strain 
off the liquid and apply with an ordinary 
spraying apparatus. Prof. Cook has recently 
tried this against the flea beetles found on 
tomatoes, potatoes, cabbages, and radishes. 
The results obtained from a thorough appli- 
cation has led him to strongly recommend 
it as a practical remedy. As a specific 
against lice, ticks and other external animal 
parasites, it is without an equal. 
KEROSENE EMULSION. 
This valuable insecticide is a mixture of 
soap, kerosene oil and water. It is prepared 
as follows : Dissolve, by boiling, one half 
pound of common soap in one gallon of 
water, and while this is still warm add two 
gallons of kerosene oil, and stir the entire 
mixture until a white frothy mass is formed. 
The best way to form a good emulsion is to 
use a small force pump so arranged that the 
liquid may be forced back into the vessel 
from which it was drawn. In this manner 
a permanent mixture may be obtained in a 
few minutes. This mixture may be used 
when desired, and should be diluted, so 
that only one-fifteenth of the entire amount 
is kerosene. This is a certain and effective 
remedy against all soft- bodied insects such 
as plant lice. It is also used as a remedy 
for sheep ticks, cattle and chicken lice. 
Dr. Menke, of the Arkansas Experiment 
Station, has used a kerosene extract of 
pyrethrum with excellent results during 
the past season. This insecticide was pre- 
pared by passing kerosene oil through the 
powdered pyrethrum. An ordinary filter 
will answer the purpose. The liquid thus 
obtained may then be made into an emul- 
sion, the same as above. It may be used in 
the diluted form so that there is only “1 
part in 450 or 500 parts of water before 
applying,” and good results obtained. In 
this manner the good qualities of two 
important insecticides are combined. 
BI-SULPHIDE OF CARBON. 
This is perhaps one of the most dangerous 
substances known when placed in careless 
hands, but if proper precaution is taken i 
is an excellent remedy for grain insects, 
such as the weevils of wheat, peas and 
beans, flour moths, clothes moths, ants, 
ground moles, and other pests, w’ben a 
powerful penetrating substance is required 
to destroy tnem. To destry ants, moles, 
etc., a hole should be made in the earth 
with an iron bar, near their nests or bur- 
rows a small quantity of the liquid turned 
in, and the opening closed immediately to 
prevent unnecessary evaporation. For 
moths and weevils it may be turned 
directly upon the grain or infested material 
without any possible danger resulting from 
the contact with the liquid. This should 
always be done in a tight room, box or bin, 
and then closed up so as to prevent the 
escape of the fumes. In such cases one 
can not be too careful about fire. No fire, 
lighted match, or cigar should be brought 
near until all traces of the odor have dis- 
appeared. After a reasonable length of 
time the liquid will have done its w r ork, and 
then the air should have free access until 
the odor can not be detected. It has been 
applied to meal and flour and no injury has 
resulted, nor odor remained where the 
materials were used. 
Brief Observations. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
To meet the wants of strawberry growers 
a variety ought to have sufficient health and 
vigor to adapt itself to widely varying con- 
ditions, and to possess one or more marked 
characteristics. It is not worth while to 
seek to find varieties that are adapted to 
particular soils, since varieties that have a 
limited range are generally found to be va- 
riable and untrustworthy. The most valu- 
able varieties are the least variable, and are 
easily suited as to soil and climate. 
The following varieties have been thor- 
oughly tested and are suited to the wants 
of those who grow berries for market: Bu- 
bach, Eureka, Haverland, Crescent, War- 
field. 
Where large berries are desired rather 
than quantity, the following can be recom- 
mended for home use or for market: Cum- 
berland, Crawford, Gandy, Louise. Miami, 
Pearl. 
The new varieties that seem to be most 
promising are Enhance, Farnsw T orth, Ivan- 
hoe.Middlelield, Muskingum. Michel’s Early. 
Parker Earle, Shuster’s Gem, Waldron. 
Those that have good points, but are 
doubtful and need furtlu r testing are Cloud, 
Lady Rusk, Stayman’s No. 1 , Daisy. 
The following will no doubt be dropped 
soon; Hoffman, Jessie, Logan, Pineapple. 
The most productive varieties are those 
that have a long season, i. e., give a com- 
paratively large number of pickings. 
