Petroleum and Its Uses.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 58, 12 July 1884, Page 5

Petroleum and Its Uses.

Although so much has been written on this as to its value in horticulture, there are many, says a writer in the Journal of IIorlicuUure, who have not commenced using it, and, on the other hand, there are others who have long since discarded it and taken up other more expensive and less effectual insecticides, simply through accidents occasioned by the paraffin being injudiciously applied. Great care is necessary in the j preparation previous to its being used on tender plants, as without this success is very uncertain. I have used it now for several years successfully on many stove and greenhouse plants, such as crotons, dracoenas, gardenias, stephanotis, azaleas, and camellias, and thereforo I am in a position to say it is a safe and effectual remedy against mealy bug, scale of all kinds, and thrips. I cannot assert it is destructive to red spider, and it is of but littlo value for aphides, at least such is my experience; but there are other very simple means for the destruction of these pests. In the first place, water heated to 110*, or as hot as the operator can bear it, should be used, as at this temperature the oil mixes bettor, and it will also be more effectual. Two ounces to a gallon is considered sufficient for most of the insects above mentioned ; and in measuring, for want of something better, we have an ordinary sixounce medicine bottle, using this filled for four gallons of water. Two syringes are set to work, and after the whole has been thoroughly mixed by forcibly discharging the contents of the syringe into the vessel used for the purpose several times, one man then commences to syringe the affected plants with the mixture, while the other continues stirring the contents of the pot with all force possible, otherwise the oil floats on the surface. Where one syringe only is available every third syringeful should be applied to the plants. Some use soft-soap with the oil, but, after trying both ways, I fail to see any advantage from using the former substance when the latter is sufficient by itself. Dull weather should be selected for applying petroleum, or in the evening when the sun is off the house, as I have found the sun affects the oil in such a way as to be very injurious to plant life. It is the safest plan to wash the oil off with clear water some time after, although in dull weather we have frequently left this on them without any apparent harm. In mild weather we carry our plants outdoors and lay them on their sides to clear them, as in this way any insects that fall off uninjured can be left outside. As a winter dressing for peaches the trees here have received nothing more than this for several years, and we are never troubled with either scale or bug now. Care is taken to wet every part of the tree, and this is carried out in the same manner as in the case of plants. The time taken in applying this on peach trees is very little compared with the old .system of brushing all the main stems of trees with various other mixtures, not to mention the fact of its being so much more effectual, while several of the latter are equally as dangerous if not applied carefully. Climbers, such as stephanotis, thunbergias, tacsonias, and passiflora, when affected with mealy bug, we look over frequently, applying a mixture of water and paraffin in about equal parts with a feather ; a touch from the tip of the latter dipped in this proves instant death to this pest, and by adopting this plan we can keep fiee from this much dreaded insect. For sponging, too, paraffin is in request, thib lea\ ing more easily the desirable and beautiful gloss on the leaves, and also causes the dirt to separate more easily ; but in this case soap is used with it, the former in the proportion of about a teaspoon ful to a gallon of Mater, care being exercised to stir it m ell, so as to avoid taking the oil from the surface in the sponge. If petroleum of good quality is obtained, and strict measures taken in its preparation, no one will have occasion to abuse it, as on these two points success depends. We use it here for cleaning the glass and woodwork of the houses, and find it more speedy in its action than soap alone. In the fruit garden petroleum is indispensable, many gardeners using this for soaking various kinds of seeds to protect them from the attacks of birds and mice ; but we find it is not proof against the latter by itself, but if a little red lead is shaken over the seeds when wet they u ill not suit their tastes so well. It is thought by some that the celery and onion flies can be partially checked by syringing this over the plants occasionally in the evening, and for American blight on apple trees it is a wellknown remedy, as well as for the scale that infests pear trees.