The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-04-27
Petroleum. or Plant Life.
onl the Pacifc Rural P~ess.

From, the Pacific Rural Press.
At the last meeting OF the Calltor'
MIA Academy of Sciences, discus
sion took place on the subject OF the
use OF petroleum tor destroying
scale insects on rose bushes. DIR.
Henry Gibbons said that two months
ago he put petroleum on the trees IN
his garden. Since then the trees
have grown better than ever before !;
they have grown faster than ever be-
tore; and given. better roses than ever
before. The petroleum seems to Kill
the scale insect. The handsomest
rose he exhibited was from a bush
which looked nearly dead short
time since. The petroleum was
mixed with castor oil. 1t is not APP
piled protusely and allowed to run
down the roots. Perhaps in crude
state the petroleum would be oad'
even on the stalks; but mixed with
the castor oil it appears to be advan-
tageous to the plant. The COM
pound does not evaporate nor give
out the insoluble portion. Ihere-
fore you have permanent coating'
acting on the entire surface OF the
DR.. Gibbons exhibited a large
bunch of beautiful roses OF exceed
ing fragrance, and in tull bloom,
which he gathered from a bush IN
his garden which two months ago
was over run with scale bugs and
nearly dead.
Now since using the petroleum ana
the castor oil, no sign OF any scale
insect can be seen in the whole gar
den. He thought castor OIL was the
only oil that will mix with alcohol,
turpentine and the beDzlnes' IL Is
soluble in alcohol, and when mixed
with crude petroleum forms a sort
of yarnish or cement, which remains
on the bushes, and does not TALL to
the ground. Petroleum, uncom-
blned with castor oil, eyaporates
swiftly. but when combined forms
useful coating to preserve the plant.
Many things have been thus tired.
Trees have been whitewashed with
caustic potash and lime. One OF his
rose bushes, nearly ruined by scale
insects, thus treated, has borne an
unusual number of roses, and a SIN
ole cactus has borne 200 flowers this
season. He thought these were
PRACTICAL facts, and quite as valuable
as theoretical ones, although ne
valued. both, and was glad to learn
of any experience having bearing
of such importance to the agricu!tu-
raj industries OF the human family.
He warned persons against soaking
the earth with petroleum as such
course prevents future vegetation
Like all things else, its moderate use,
wisely directed, is good, and its ex-
cessive use is destructive. A grain
of opium relieves pain, but its habl-
tual use persisted in, brings death.
DR.. Behr said that as the mixture
was not soluble in water, if 1t reaches
the earth, it cakes the ground and
thus shuts out the air, which must
permeate the surface and is necessary
to plant growth. A few application
will make rose bushes grow better II
sparingly applied, and kill the scale
bugs, but if allowed to reach the
soil, it renders vegetation thereafter
impossible in that spot, until it is
eradicated.
DR.. A. Kellogg thought a sample
wash OF common I've would at first
be sufficient in many cases. Petro-
leum deterlorates ground for crops.
One scale bug has sixty offspring
Mr.. Verder received a large lot OF
lemon trees from Australia, covered
with scale bugs. He applied refined
petroleum 10 the leaves carefully,
and they all fell of, but every bug
died, and fresh leaves came out, and
the plants continued healthy tor
many years. lie atterward applied
it successfully to orange trees. lie
THINKS there is misappl ehenslon
among those who condemn its use.
1t should not be allowed 10 reach