74 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  25,  1895. 
followed  the  plough  or  wielded  the  spade.  This  is  a  mistake,  as 
no  persons  are  more  ready  to  admit  than  many  who  have  gone 
through  the  mill  of  hard  labour  on  the  laud. 
But  I  must  turn  to  the  vexed  questions — the  prevention  and 
destruction  of  eelworms,  root  mites,  and  wireworms.  The  only 
difference  between  prevention  and  remedy  is  that  by  the  first  we 
destroy  the  enemy  before  the  seeds  or  plants  are  sown  or  set,  and 
by  the  second  kill  the  parasite  on  or  in  the  plant  in  such  a  manner 
as  not  to  impair  the  plant’s  health,  at  the  same  tinae  aiding  its 
recuperation.  This  is  a  farmer’s  and  gardener’s  point  of  view, 
the  utilisation  of  science — of  which  both  farmers  and  gardeners 
possess  a  good  deal  unknown  to  themselves.  I  have  now  to  say 
that  eelworms  are  just  as  easily  killed  as  eels  are  by  the  bleaching 
powder  solutions  run  into  the  streams,  and  venture  to  recommend 
a  few  “  object  lessons  :  ” — 
1,  Solution  of  Nitrate  of  Soda. — Take  a  wide-mouthed  quart 
glass  jar  or  pickle  bottle,  wash  it  thoroughly  clean,  place  in  ^  oz, 
nitrate  of  soda  and  1  pint  of  water.  The  salt  will  dissolve  in  a  few 
minutes,  then  place  in  (a)  the  worst  eelworm-infested  root  of 
Cucumber,  Hop,  or  Tomato  ;  (Z^)  a  bulb  of  Eucharis,  Gladiolus, 
Hyacinth,  or  Yallota  swarming  with  mites  ;  (c)  a  Carrot  nearly 
eaten  away  by  grub,  or  a  Potato  much  hollowed  by  wireworm. 
Let  there  be  no  mistake.  Leave  the  specimen  in  the  solution 
twelve  hours.  If  it  be  desired  to  see  how  the  solution  acts  take  a 
small  portion  of  the  root  infested  with  eelworms,  or  of  the  bulbs 
swarming  with  mites,  and  place  in  the  cup  of  a  microscope  con¬ 
taining  enough  of  the  solution  for  its  immersion,  turn  the  light  on, 
look  through  the  object  glass,  and  you  will  see  the  finest  gliding 
and  contortions  of  eelworms— such  as  are  not  approached  by  the 
most  expert  serpent  charmer,  or  the  frantic  efforts  of  mites 
equalling  that  of  a  wasp  entangled  in  a  spider’s  web.  You  will  see 
how  the  eelworms  throw  out  air-bubbles,  stretch  themselves  out 
with  a  final  shiver,  or  the  mites  strive  to  escape  this  way  and  that, 
and  then  fall  into  a  jelly-like  heap.  For  the  Carrot  grub  and  wire- 
worm  the  naked  eye  will  show  how  they  retreat  into  the  Carrot  or 
Potato,  shortly  emerging  from  the  holes,  rise  to  the  surface,  and 
finally  settle  in  the  solution  head  upwards.  The  whole  of  these 
things  will  be  performed  in  about  forty  minutes. 
After  the  twelve  hours’  immersion  in  the  solution  find,  if  you 
can,  an  eelworm  or  a  mite  alive.  Make  no  error,  but  examine 
every  part  of  the  tissue,  and  find  that  the  solution  has  been  taken 
into  every  cell  and  not  one  cell  injured,  whilst  neither  eelworm 
nor  mite  exists. 
2,  Solution  of  Kainit — Proceed  exactly  as  for  the  solution  of 
nitrate  of  soda,  only  use  kainit  instead .  Look  carefully  and  patiently, 
then  you  will  see  that  chlorides  act  more  slowly  than  nitrate,  but 
are  not  the  less  sure.  If  you  experiment  with  a  Potato  set,  note 
the  facts  that  in  the  kainit  solution  the  sprouts  are  not  injured^ 
but  the  growth  accelerated,  making  considerable  growth,  and  even 
emitting  roots  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days  ;  whilst  another 
in  the  solution  of  nitrate  of  soda  remains  stationary,  but  is  neither 
injured  in  sprout  nor  in  tuber  tissue.  That  tells  us  the  Potato 
appropriates  potash. 
3,  Solution  of  Soluble  Fhenyle. — Soluble  phenyle  forty  drops^ 
water  (soft),  1  pint  ;  mix.  Proceed  as  advised  for  1  and  2.  Note 
how  the  eelworms  wriggle  about  ;  mites  go  all  in  a  heap,  and  wire- 
worms  collapse. 
The  foregoing  are  all  maximum  doses,  but  half-strength  solu¬ 
tions  act  quite  as  effectively,  only  the  time  required  is  longer.  All 
are  common  things — two  (nitrate  of  soda  and  kainit)  manures,  and 
one  a  disinfectant.  They  are  readily  procured,  easily  applied,  and 
return  a  good  profit  on  the  outlay,  as  all  possess  manorial  proper¬ 
ties,  nitrate  of  soda  and  phenyle  being  nitrogenous,  and  kainit 
potassic. 
The  Three  Substances  as  Disinfectants  of  Soils  and  Plants. — 
Nitrate  of  soda  or  kainit,  ^oz.  to  1  pint,  1  oz.  to  1  gallon.  Soluble 
phenyle  20  drops  to  1  pint,  1  wineglassful  to  3  gallons  of  soft 
water,  {d)  Turves  :  Immerse  in  the  solution,  place  on  a  gridiron 
across  the  tub,  allow  to  remain  till  the  superfluous  liquid  has  run 
off,  then  stack,  (e)  Soil :  Place  a  foot  thick,  and  being  moderately 
moist  use  14  gallon  of  the  solution  per  superficial  yard.  (/)  For 
beds  or  borders  :  Water  with  3  gallons  of  the  solution  per  square 
yard,  the  ground  being  well  drained,  so  as  to  allow  the  solution  to 
sink  into  the  soil,  and  by  no  means  allow  the  enemy  to  escape 
downwards.  Wireworms  may  come  to  the  surface  to  die,  or  afford 
meals  for  starlings  and  rooks  ;  but  neither  root  mites  nor  eelworms 
bother  about  breathing  atmospheric  air.  (y)  Plants  ;  Such  as 
Cucumbers  in  pots  before  planting  out,  stop  the  hole  in  the  pot, 
and  water  with  the  solution  till  it  shows  at  the  surface,  and  after 
soaking  an  hour  remove  the  clay  plugs  ;  for  Tomato  plants  soak 
for  three  hours  ;  for  bulbs  soak  for  six  hours,  and  for  hardy  plants, 
such  as  Hops,  soak  for  twelve  hours.  The  foregoing  under  (y)  are 
for  bad  cases  ,  for  ordinary  ones  it  suffices  to  water  plants  in  pots 
once  thoroughly,  and  steep  the  roots  (not  tops)  of  hardy  plants  for 
an  hour,  allowing  sufficient  time  in  all  cases  for  the  solu¬ 
tion  to  enter  the  tissues.  Regard  must  be  bad  to  the 
tenderness  of  the  plant.  Cucumbers  are  soonest  affected 
injuriously.  Tomatoes  the  least.  I  have  had  Tomato  plants  in 
both  kainit  and  ^itrate  of  soda  solutions  three  days  without  any 
injury  whatever. 
Nitrate  of  Soda  and  Kainit  in  Powder  as  Preventives  of 
Eelivorm^  Mites  at  the  Root,  and  Wireworm. — Dress  the  land  in  the 
spring,  just  before  sowing  seeds  or  setting  plants,  with  nitrate  of 
soda.  If  lb.  per  rod,  24  cwt.  per  acre,  having  it  crushed  fine,  and 
evenly  distributed  when  the  ground  is  moist,  but  with  a  prospect 
of  fine  weather  or  only  slight  showers  for  a  few  days.  This  will 
kill  slugs  and  leather-jackets,  as  well  as  eelworm,  root  mites,  and 
wireworms. 
Kainit,  also  crushed  fine,  may  be  used  similarly  to  the  nitrate  of 
soda  at  the  fate  of  2f  lbs.  per  rod,  3f  cwt.  per  acre.  In  using  these 
substances  separately  there  is  danger  of  getting  too  much  growth  in 
the  plant  from  the  nitrate  of  soda,  and  too  little,  if  not  some 
retardation,  by  the  use  of  the  kainit,  and  in  cases  of  land  broken  up 
from  old  pasture,  or  badly  infested  with  grubs  or  wireworm,  the 
quantities  separately  are  not  only  insufficient,  but  not  the  correct 
thing  for  the  crop,  say  Potatoes.  In  that  case,  If  cwt.  of  nitrate 
of  soda  and  3f  cwt,  of  kainit,  mixed,  per  acre,  or  34  lbs.  per  rod, 
will  give  a  good  account  of  the  parasites  the  land  contains  and 
produce  excellent  results  in  the  crop.  Half  the  amount  of  this 
mixture  suffices  on  ordinary  land,  and  it  is  jast  as  good  for  Tomatoes 
as  for  Potatoes.  As  most  people  like  things  worked  out  for  them, 
especially  those  having  most  time  for  making  calculations  and  only 
requiring  small  quantities,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  proportions  are 
in  lbs..  If  nitrate  of  soda,  2f  kainit,  both  crushed  fine,  thoroughly 
mixed  ;  rate  34  lbs.  per  rod,  2  ozs.  per  square  yard. 
Phenyle  for  Infested  Crops,  such  as  Cucumbers  and  Tomatoes. — 
Soluble  phenyle,  20  drops  to  1  pint,  1  wineglassful  to  3  gallons  of 
soft  or  rain  water.  This  for  Tomatoes,  half  strength  for  Cucumbers 
or  Melons.  That  is  for  bad  cases  ;  for  suspicious  ones  20  drops  of 
soluble  phenyle  per  gallon  of  water,  using  as  often  as  required,  but 
not  so  as  to  induce  too  much  growth.  Outdoors  : — Hop  plants 
or  anything  noi^  hair-like  rooted,  as  Heaths. — Soluble  phenyle, 
1  wineglassful  to  3  gallons  of  water,  and  that  amount  per 
square  yard,  one  dressing  being  sufficient  for  the  worst  cases, 
and  for  ordinary  cases  of  suspicion  60  drops  (1  drachm)  per 
gallon  of  water. 
For  Grub  or  Rust  in  Carrots,  and  Maggot  in  Onions. — 
Soluble  phenyle,  1  gill  (quarter  of  a  pint)  to  4  gallons  of  water  ; 
apply  with  a  rose  watering  can  ;  for  Onion  maggot,  1  gallon  per 
square  yard  ;  for  Carrot  grub  half  a  gallon  more,  or  sufficient  to 
moisten  the  soil  to  the  extent  of  the  root  formation. 
For  indoor  or  outdoor  :  Nitrate  of  soda,  1  oz.  per  gallon  of 
water  ;  or  kainit,  1  oz.  per  gallon.  These  solutions  must  only  be 
used  on  such  plants  as  Tomatoes  and  Beet  alternating,  so  that  the 
nitrate  may  not  force  the  plants  too  much,  and  chloride,  on  the 
other  hand,  be  kept  from  doing  harm. 
