•330 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 7. 
very simple applications, such as clay paint by itself, 
clay paiut with the addition of a little sulphur, or a 
little soot, or a little soft-soap, or well-boiled melted size, 
or glue, to make the mixture more adhesive, and to 
prevent its cracking and peeling prematurely. For 
Vines and Peaches I have never found any paint 
superior to two coatings of thin clay, well worked in 
with a brush. Then, why use auy other mixtures, such 
as this correspondent has done? I candidly own, I 
could give no proper answer, unless in some definite 
case. For instance, I know the clay would smother up 
eggs for the time being, but a live insect would perforate 
that, that would be inclined to lie still, if a pill, well 
saturated with tobacco, his insectship know not how 
large, must be perforated before his nose got into the 
atmosphere again. I know of none of our insect 
enemies that relish tobacco, especially in a liquid 
form; and, but for the expense, I should not dislike it 
in all paint applications. Then, as to the soft-soap , I 
should merely find fault with making it nearly one-half 
of the ingredients; for though it would bo useful as an 
adhesive, in a moderate quantity, and would not injure 
in largish quantities, where the wood and buds were 
thoroughly consolidated, I should dread using it nearly 
so strong where the buds and wood were at all green; 
especially if the materials were all boiled together 
previously, as fresh combinations are then apt to be 
formed, different from the mere mixture, mechanically, 
when all are in a cool state. Some years ago, I saw 
a house of Vines killed nearly to the bottom witli a 
similar mixture, by the addition of nux vomica, that 
would have suffered little, if the mixture had been made 
up with the materials, or rather more in a cool state. 
Those who have tried the sulphur wash, several times 
recommended, made by boiling a pound of now lime 
with a pound of sulphur in a gallon of water, will at 
once perceive that such a solution must be used very, 
very sparingly, in comparison with mere cold lime or 
sulphur water. 
Then, as to sulphur, I have long ceased to attach much 
value to it, when added, in its solid powder state and cold, 
to a paint or wash. I have watched leaves painted with 
thin sulphur water, and seen Red Spider, and Thrips, 
and even Mealy Bug, dancing and jumping in rare glee 
over what was to them little mountains of sulphur, and 
sticking their proboscis into some little green oasis that 
had escaped the infliction ; and if that could not be got, 
and better foliage were not near at hand, actually getting 
or burrowing under the nodules of sulphur, without 
much seeming discomfort. The value of sulphur, in 
such a paint, is chiefly that which arises from the 
sulphurous fumes emitted when the sun shines power¬ 
fully on the wood of the tree ; and to secure this object, 
I would much sooner practice tho method, so long ro- 
commeuded by Mr. Errington, of making sulphur a 
component part of the lime, or whiting, used in cleaning 
and beautifying the walls of our houses. I need not 
here refer to or recapitulate getting fumes of sulphur 
from hot water plates. 
Then, as to soot, I do not object to a portion of it 
boing incorporated in a paint for deciduous plants, as, 
either from rains or frequent syringings, a certain portion 
of ammoniacal matter seems to be given off, and so far 
may enrich the young foliage; but for plants at. all 
tender, and where the buds are the least green, I should 
be afraid that the sun and soot together would scorch 
them, as I have noticed it done in some cases. 
Then, as to lime, used in a very caustic state, it is 
useful for removing all green parasite mosses and 
lichens from a tree; but if the buds are not well 
hardened, even though in tho case of a Peach or a Vino 
they should be ripe enough to produce fruit, the lime 
may scorch them to the very centre. In fact, not long 
ago, I examined a Peach-house washed with a composi- 
1 
v 
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tion similar to that of our correspondent, but where the 
lime had been in greater quantity, and I was told fresh 
from the kiln, the fruit-buds of some trees refused 
to swell, and never would, their inside being so much 
brown tinder. Of course, if used in a mild state of 
chalk it will be harmless, and just as good an ingredient 
for a paint as any other simple earth that might be 
picked up at random in the garden. It will also be 
recollected that caustic lime can only operate as such 
for a short time, as it rapidly absorbs carbonic acid from 
the atmosphere, and becomes chalk, or just as it-was 
before it was burned. 
These passing remarks may tend to promote simplicity 
on the one hand, and the avoidance of danger on the 
other, so far as insect-paints are concerned. I would 
follow out much the same rule with washes for getting 
rid of lusects from growing plants in our plant stoves. 
The simplicity or the fewness of the materials used is 
no bar against their thorough efficiency. Many things 
have been recommended as a 
Wash for Destroying Insects, which, if not very care¬ 
fully used, will soon make short work of the whole affair, 
by destroying the plant likewise. Thus, for instance, 
in the case of the Mealy Bug, I have daubed them with 
strong ammoniacal-liquor from the gas-works, and killed 
them, but rather injured the young shoots. I have 
also allowed diluted spirits of wine to fall upon their 
woolly backs, and that settled them wherever it touched, 
and did but little harm. Turpentine was equally effec¬ 
tual, but more injurious to vegetation. Spirits of 
camphor, equally effectual, and equally prejudicial. 
Plants with hard foliage would suffer but little from a 
little of either of these substances in a wash; but pro¬ 
vided it was supplied freely enough to tell upon the 
insects, it would also tell upon the foliage and young 
shoots of such plants as Vines and Peaches when 
growing. One or two friends, I believe, can report dif¬ 
ferently, and I shall be glad to be corrected; but the 
above is the result of several trials. I have considerable 
confidence in Messrs. Page’s Composition for destroying 
the Mealy Bug. From my own observation, as well as 
the testimony of gardeners in the neighbourhood, who 
have tried it, I am inclined to consider it a valuable 
wash, detrimentary to all insects, and rather promotive 
of vegetable growth. A neighbour had a large tubful 
of a wash, the other day, which, in his opinion, was quite 
as beneficial as that of tho Messrs. Page. On a mutual 
rendering of confidence as to materials, 1 find he had 
used much the same things as I had done for a liquid 
1 found very useful. The only drawback to my friend’s 
composition, and that of the Messrs. Page, in the case 
of swelling Grapes, was the rather muddy character of 
the solution. I should prefer a clearer wash that would 
have little or no sediment—at least, not more than 
chilled water driven forcibly from the syringe, and very 
clear, would afterwards remove. If the appearance is 
no object, I have great faith in Page’s Composition, 
though I have not tried it. I have had no chance of 
trying something like the following on the Bug; but 
such a liquid has been useful in destroying other insects. 
Such as it is, it is freely at the service of this and any 
other subscriber. 
Take half-a-pound of sulphur flowers, and lialf-a- 
pound of quick-limo; mix, and boil for twenty minutes 
in three or four quarts of water ; allow it to settle, and 
pour off the clear brown liquid into a bottle. 
Soak half-a-pound of tobacco in a gallon of water; add 
to it a quarter-of-a-pound of soft-soap, and one pound of 
size or glue ; stir and boil for a short time; allow to 
settle, and pour through a fine sieve. Mix with the 
sulphur-water, and increase the quantity to ten gallons, 
seeing that the water added is warm, and stirring well 
all the time. This should be used with a brush on the 
infected parts. It is too strong for a general syringing. 
