Article beginning on page 143.
Psyche 4:143-144, 1883.

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PSYCHE.
TREATMENT PROCESSES AGAINST PHYLLOXERA VITIFOLIAE. BY WILLIAM STEBBINS BARXARD, WASHINGTON, D. C. The control or destruction of this noto- rious pest is one of the most prominent
scientific problems of our day. It has
baffled many experimenters even under
the stimulus of a standing prize of 300, ooo francs offered by the French gov-
eminent. The Phylloxera commission
has not yet found a device worthy of the award. In its reports (I) bisulphide
of carbon, (2) sulphocyanide of potas-
sium and (3) submersion by water,
are recommended as the best remedies
it has found. The control of the phyl-
loxera is becoming a serious question
with the Viticiiltural association of
California and the pest occurs more or
less through the eastern and middle
parts of our country. On these ac-
counts every new treatment against it is received with interest here and abroad.
A treatment devised against the phyl-
loxesa by the writer was reported upon
lust year [14 Dec. 18831 before the
Biological society of Washington and
a published notice of the discussion on
remedies for the phylloxera at that
meeting appeared in PSYCHE for Jan.-
Feb. 1884, v. 4, p. 133-134, in which
kerosene, applied by the nether-inser-
tion process, was recommended as SLI-
perior to naphthalin.
Those remarks were in response to
co~nmunications by Prof. C. V. Riley
and Prof. T. Taylor setting forth the
value of naphthalin as a remedy for the
phyl1oxe1-a. A partial description was
there given of a nether inserter [without its handles and accessories1 which I
-
had previously conbtructed for inserting kerosene, but which was equally adapt-
ed for applying naphthalin. Omitting'
some impoitant details and applications
of this instrument, it may be added that in practice the device has operated with perfect satisfaction, as used by me in
treating infested vines near Washington. By the process of nether insertion
and upward or volatile diffusion of that most infallible of all insecticides, petro- leum, by its distillation and upward
capillary dispersion in the ground, we
have a tieatment not only against the
active insect but likewise against its
summer eggs, which are also on the
roots. The insecticides used against
the active insect have not killed the eggs in sufficient number, and the survivors
have hatched to restock the plants ;
hence to destroy both by one and the
same application makes the treatment
simple and more complete.
But the phylloxera also presents it-
self in a third phase foi treatment, viz., in its winter eggs, which are different
from the summer eggs and are deposi-
ted above ground. This brings me to
another method of diffusing petroleum
which I devised and reduced to practice




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144 . E's2TfiE. [March IS.+
some years since, and which has proved example. the American blight aphid of great value for freeing the orange [Schizoneura lanigero] the hop root groves of the scale insects. I allude to gortyna [ Gortyna immanis] root mag- its enniisificaiioii with
milk and water,
gots of the cabbage, kc., the strawberry whereby petroleum can be diluted to root beetles, cicadas, cut-worms, white any suitable strength for insecticide
grubs, wire worms, nests of ants, &c.
purposes. The emulsion applied by a
Thus it is seen to have a genenil tippli- brush upon the parts where winter eggs cation to a wide range of ciises hereto- are deposited will destroy them. When fore not satisfactorily treated. diluted, a spa? of it over the entire Besides the combined application of plant in the winter season will do no petroleum and the nether-insertion pro- harm. The winter eggs should be cess, the latter and the inserters apply in treated not later than February. The combination with many other insecti- milk-kerosene process permits petro- cides which have more or less efficiency leum to be applied by the ordinary in the cases cited, of which the follow- methods for insecticides. Emulsifies- examples may be specially mentioned, tiou with milk is also a recourse to viz. : rhigolene, gasolene, naphtha, ben- slow and milden the intense action of zine, kerosene, crude petroleum, oil of the petroleum naphthas when placed in tar, tar water, naphthalin, pyroligne- the ground.
ous acid, soot,, creosote, carbolic acid, Petroleum should be sprayed over cresylic acid, sulphurous acid, sulplio- the ground to destroy scattered eggs. cysmide of potassium, bisulphide of and to reach the superficial larvae in the carbon, cyanide of potassium, pyre- soil, but not, when undilntecl, so as to tbnm preparations, lye solutions, to- flow uncliffused upon the roots.
When bacco decoction, chips and snuff, water, gradually dispersed above as spray and gas with, liquid fertilizers, vapors, when inserted beneath the roots, the gases or fumes. The relative merits or ground itself practically dilutes and advantages of- disaciviintage~ of the^ diffuses the petroiei-iin before it can would invoh e lengthy discussion which reach the roots. The nether-upw;n-d miiy now be postponed, each has its kerosene diffusion process is the only
special adaptation.
economically practical way, of course, in The nether inserters tipply a!)! up-
which the deep application of the un- ward acting insecticide agninst any diluted forms of petroleum can be at- underground enemies. Also I have tempted with safety to the plmt.
By it
provided certain accessories with which
the cheap, crude article and its lighter they in the same manner npply water or
fonn, the naphthas, become available
liquid manure to saturate the ground
as most vaiuiibie agents against tli e pests. against Phylloxera w the other pests,
The nether-kerosene process applies
and to fertilize the ground, to stiinulate likewise as a treatment against fill other and diet up the plant ; but these topics root insects or subterranean pests, as for will be fully noticed at a later date.




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