The Queen Cook Book: A Careful Compilation of Recipes and Practical ...

Obtain crude carbolic acid, use it in this form because it is stronger and better for the purpose and costs, but very little. Two or three tablespoons of acid to a quart of domestic soft soap may first be tried. Stir well together, and let stand for a few hours. Then test the compound by mixing a little of it with soft water. If too much acid, oily particles of carbolic acid will be floating on the surface. More soap should be added to balance the excess of acid. Some soaps are stronger than others, so no definite rule can be given. Make as strong with acid as the soap will perfectly cut. The refined acid may be used when the crude is not at hand. When prepared as above, make a moderately strong suds and apply with syringe, or turn up the bush and sprinkle with a broom. In using on delicate plants, make it weaker and rinse off after a few minutes. Grape Mildew and Curculio. To one part sulphur add two parts lime unslacked with about two thousand times their bulk of boiling water. Let it stand forty-eight hours, draw off the clear liquor and apply with a common garden pump. The Apple Worm. After the worm has entered the fruit and accomplished its damage, the time arrives when it has to leave the fruit and hide itself in a quiet secure position to undergo the transition from the larva to the pupa state, which requires, in the early part of the season, eight or ten days; after this time the miller is hatched and is again ready to besiege the fruit with its sting. 296 The Queen Cook Book The insect being two-brooded at least, if not disturbed, has an increased force to do mischief the second time. The progeny for the succeeding year have alone to depend on the security of this second generation of larvae. They may often be found under the outside bark of apple trees during winter. This bark should be thoroughly scraped off and washed in strong softsoap suds. Sprinkle the ground under the tree with wood-ashes and then sprinkle this with water enough to wet the ashes. Last of June, wrap around the trees woolen rags about four inches wide, dip in either of the above preparations, or wet with hellebore fluid, as directed, for currant worms. Every few days examine the trees, and destroy the worms secreted under the woolen cloth and carefully picking up and destroying all dropped apples, for the rest of the summer. This is an effective remedy, but it will require your utmost diligence. Red Ants. Have plenty of swing shelves in pantry and cellar. Place sugar boxes, cereals and every thing eatable or sweet upon them. Wash off the shelves where you find them with strong spirits of camphor. Place lumps of camphor in corners and occasionally on shelf. But to keep them from the floor, put coarse, salt two inches deep and three inches wide next to the mop-board. This I have found very effectual. I have found little dishes of chloride of lime set around in addition, good, for sometimes they seem desperate and then we have to be very thorough too. Everything must be very clean; not a crumb dropped around. [illustration: page number] Ants Black and Red. " Having had years of trial with ants, both black and red, we lighted upon the following remedy, which with us has worked like magic. One tablespoon of tartar emetic, one tablespoon sugar, mixed into a thin syrup with water .as it evaporates or is carried oflf, add ingredients as needed. When the water dries up, fill up again; the emetic will last a long time. A sicker lot of pests it would be hard to find. Whether they impart the results to the home firm, or whether all are killed, I trow not; certain it is they do not pay us a second visit.''