The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1886-01-09
INSECTICIDES.
Results of Experiments at the New Yorh
Experiment Station.

Results OF Experiments at the New York
Experiment Station.
In the third annual report of the
New York Agricultural Experiment
Station is to be found statement of
results gained on the station grounds
with various insecticides. The expert
ence there led to the opinion that a
special mode of treatment must be
adopted for almost every destructive
insect.
The turnip flea-beetle was expert
mented upon with several insecti-
cides. A strong decoction of tobacco
co proved very efficient when frequent
ly applied, but its efficacy appeared to
be lost after about ten days. Kerosene
emulsion, diluted with eight parts of
soft water, was also efficient, but the
effects were little if any more lasting
than those of the tobacco water and
when frequently applied retarded the
growth Of the plants. Tobacco leaves,
cut fine, when placed about the plants
of the radish, had marked effect in
keeping off the beetle. This appli-
cation as well as that of de-
coction Of tobacco seemed to
stimulate the growth of the plants.
Air-slacked lime, busted over the plants
when wet, proved unquestionably benefi-
cial and in dry weather its effects were
quite lasting.
1t was noted that the plants of cab
bage, radishes, etc, grown in the cold
frame are scarcely injured by the flea
beetle None of the applications used
for the tlea-beetle had any perceptible
effect in preventing injuries from the
radish-tly, but satisfactory results were
gained by the use of coal ashes.
The only application that appeared
to prevent the injuries of the striped
cucumber beetle was Paris green mixed
with water, at the rate of half tea
spoonful to two gallons, and the MKT
ure applied to both sides of the leaves.
Pyrethrum or Buhach powder, diluted
with an equal bulk of air-slaked lime
and applied with bellows, proved the
instant death of caterpillars.
Experiments with Littles soluble
phenyle did not prove it desirable on
the station grounds Hammonds slug
shot upon trial was proved to be de-
stroyer of insects, but the indications
that it was no more or less than Lon
don purple mixed with a very large
proportion of gas or unslacked lime Ii
this is so, the claim that it is not in
furious to the human family nor to
stock is false, and the price at which it
sold, is in excess of the value OF the in
gradients.
1t has been claimed that the Buhach
powder will kill the potato beetle when
applied to it in the open air With a
view to verifying this statement, we
thoroughly busted several beetles while
on the plants with the pure powder on
July 25, and after they had fallen to
the ground placed them in a bottle,
over the top of which we tied bit Of
mosquito netting. The beetles soon re.
covered their activity and exhibited nc
Inconvenience as the result of the APP.
plication. A bit of potato foliage was
placed in the bottle in order that the
starvation of the beetles ght not con.
vey a wrong impression as to the effects
of the poison. Later observations,
however, showed that this precaution
was entirely unnecessary, for on August
80, thirty-five days afterward, some Of
the beetles were still alive. These APP.
piled themselves with their accustomed
vigor to potato leaves inserted into the
bottle, though they had tasted during
a full month.
1t was proven that the Pari
green and water, cobs dipped in Goa
tar, and the kerosene emulsion were al
beneficial in retarding, if not who'll,
preventing, the work of the borer. TIL,
coal tar application, it is thought, i
probably more permanent in its actor
than either Paris green or the emul
sion. 1t is assured that it does not de
stroy the insects, but only repels them
while the other two appear to poison
the young maggot as il eats its way Il
the stem,