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The essential oil from this species in Russia gave irregular re- 
sults against the red spider and the cotton aphid.- Kayumov (225). 
In a patent an insecticide was claimed as prepared from a plant 
known as habak which is a native of Persia but also grows in the 
United States. The leaves and flowers have the most active properties, 
but the whole plant may be employed after the fibrous tissues are removec 
from the powder, which is treated with various solvents. The insecticide 
has been used successfully as a contact insecticide in the destruction 
of flies, potato bugs, and many other injurious insects.— Hi vely ( 195 ) . 
The oil of sweet basil (50 p. p.m.) killed 95 percent of the mos- 
quito larvae tested. Extracts of the whole plant killed none. — Hartzell 
and Wilcoxon ( 188 ) • 
OCIMUM CANUM Sims. 
In India this plant was used against fleas. In tests a 5-percent 
alcoholic extract of the whole plant killed 50 percent of the ceter- 
pi liars of Euproctis fraterna (Moore) treated. — Puttarudriah and Subra- 
meniam ( 3liJ ^ 
OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM L. 
This plant was used in Haiti as e eenerel insecticide.—Ronrk 
( 332 , p. 31). 
OCTMUM SANCTUM L. Sacred basil. 
The dried leaves were an effectual means of dislodging maggots 
in India.— Watt ( 422 , v. 5, p. 444). 
OCIMUM VIRIDE Willd. Basil. Mosquito plant. 
As the result of a large number of experiments it was concluded 
that (l) The growing of this plant has little or no effect in driving 
away mosquitoes; (2) fresh leaves have no effect on mosquitoes when 
placed in olose contact with them; and (3) the fumes of burnt leaves 
have a stupefying and eventually a destructive effect on mosquitoes, 
but to obtain this aotion the air must be so saturated that it is 
impossible for an individual to remain in the room. It is probable, 
however, that burning cones made of the powdered lepves will drive 
mosquitoes away.— Anonymous (16). 
A report from northern Nigeria stated that the presence of one 
of these plants in a room undoubtedly drove out mosquitoes and when 
three or four of them were put around a bed at night a man was able to 
sleep unmolested without a mosquito net. — Howard ( 203 , p. 26). 
