Insects and Insecticides. 
27 
Potash lye.1 pound 
Fish-oil..3 pints 
Soft water.3 gallons 
Dissolve the lye in boiling water and then add the oil and boil 
for two hours longer. Before using dissolve a pound of this soap in 
from six to ten gallons of water. Use for the same purposes as 
whale-oil soap, and in the same strengths. 
14. KEROSENE EMULSION. 
This preparation is probably the best general purpose insecti¬ 
cide for the destruction of insects by external contact. The mate¬ 
rials composing it are always at hand and it is not difficult to 
prepare after one has had a little experience. Soft water should be 
used, if possible. If very bard water is used it may be necessary to 
“ break ” it first by adding washing soda or potash lye. 
To make the emulsion use the ingredients in the following pro¬ 
portions: 
Soap. 1 pound 
Kerosene. 2 gallons 
Water.27 gallons 
Prepare by dissolving the soap in a gallon of water, then, 
while the soapy water is boiling hot, remove from the fire and 
immediately add two gallons of kerosene and agitate briskly for a 
few minutes. If a large amount is being made use a force pump 
and forcibly pump the mixture back into the receptacle that con¬ 
tains it until all is a frothy, creamy mass. If such a mixture is not 
obtained in a very few minutes, put the whole over the fire again 
until it boils and then repeat the pumping, and the emulsion will 
almost surely form. When put back for reheating watch every 
moment to see that it does not boil over and take fire. This work 
should be done out of doors. After the emulsion is made, add the 
remaining 27 gallons of water and all is ready for use. 
Small quantities may be emulsified with a rotary egg-beater. 
Whale-oil soap, or any cheap laundry soap, may be used. 
Clean dishes and clean water should be used. Every particle 
of dirt in the emulsion serves as a center of attraction about which 
the oil droplets will collect and then rise to the top to form a film 
of oil on the surface. 
The strength above given is suitable for most insects. Most 
plant lice may be killed with an emulsion of half the above 
strength. 
15. KEROSENE-MILK EMULSION. 
Kerosene will emulsify with milk, also, and when small quan¬ 
tities are wanted it is often less trouble to use the milk than to pre¬ 
pare the soapy water. The proportions are: 
Milk (sour).•.1 gallon 
Kerosene...2 gallons 
