1039. Another Method.—The simplest and most effectual way of destroying beetles is by means of red wafers. As it has become usual to substitute vermilion for red lead in the composition of wafers, it will be necessary to ask particularly for such as have been made with red lead. Strew these in the neighborhood of the crevices from which these insects issue, and their future incursions will be speedily prevented. Cockroaches may be destroyed by the same means.
1040. For Destroying Bugs and Worms in Wood.—An eminent physician has discovered that by rubbing wood with a solution of vitriol, insects and bugs are prevented from harboring therein. When the strength of this remedy is required to be increased, there need only be boiled some coloquintida apples in water, in which, afterwards, vitriol is dissolved, and the bedstead, with the wood about them, and the wainscoting, being anointed with the liquor, will be ever after clear of worms or bugs. The wall may be likewise rubbed with the composition, and some of it may be dropped into the holes where these insects are suspected to be harbored. As to the walls, they require only to be washed over with the vitriol water.
1041. To Destroy Insects on Wall Fruit Trees.—Take an old tin watering-pan, or any similar vessel, and make a charcoal fire in it; add a tube or pipe, made of either tin, leather, or stiff paper, to the spout, which may be of any sufficient length; then strew some brimstone, tobacco-dust, fine shreds of leather, &c., upon the fire, in the pan, and cover the top; having a pair of bellows ready, hold the wind-flap over the tube or pipe to receive the smoke, which it will do very effectually when you use the bellows. By this means the suffocating vapor may be directed through the bellows to any part of the tree with the greatest ease and facility, and the tree soon cleared of all vermin.
1042. To Destroy the Insect which attacks the Apple Tree, commonly called the White Blight, or American Blight.—To a strong decoction of the digitalis or foxglove, add a sufficient quantity of fresh cow-dung, to give it such a consistence as may enable you to apply it with a painters' brush to those parts of the bark of the tree, which afford a harbor for this destructive insect. The insect is generally destroyed by the first application, though in some instances it may be necessary to repeat it. It has been remarked that the insect never returns in future years to those parts of the tree which have been thus treated.
1043. For Destroying Caterpillars on Gooseberry Bushes.—Take one Scots pint (two English quarts) of tobacco liquor (which may be made, where it cannot be purchased, by infusing any kind of tobacco in water till all the strength be extracted) which the manufacturers of tobacco generally sell for destroying bugs, and mix them with about one ounce of alum; and when the alum is sufficiently dissolved, put this mixture into a plate, or other vessel, wide and long enough to admit of a brush, like a weaver's brush, being dipped into it; and as early in the season as you can perceive the leaves of the bushes to be in the least eaten, or the eggs upon the leaves (which generally happens about the end of May), and which will be found in great numbers on the veins of the leaves on their under side; you are then to take the preparation, or liquor, and after dipping the brush into it, and holding the brush towards the under side of the bush, which is to be raised and supported by the hands of another person; and by drawing your hand gently over the hairs of the brush, the above liquid is sprinkled, and falls in small drops on the leaves; the consequence of which is, if the eggs are there, they never come forward; and if they have already generated worms, in a minute or two after the liquor touches them, they either die or sicken, so as to fall off the bush; at least they do so upon giving it a little shake. If, upon their thus falling off, they shall not appear completely dead, the bush should be held up, and either a little boiling water from a watering-pot thrown over them, or a bruise given them by a spade or shovel; or the earth, where they lie, turned over with a hoe. This preparation does not in the least injure the bushes.