Professor Riley's Kerosene Emulsion.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 19

Professor Riley's Kerosene Emulsion.

A paragraph is going the rounds of the agricultural press .ertitled 'Remedy for Scale Insects,’ quoting Professor Riley as having had the be3t results in fighting scale insects with kerosene emulsion prepared after the following formula : * Take the white of two eggs, three tablespoonfuls of sugar, three-quarters of a quart of water, and one quart of kerosene. Mix thoroughly, by working them together by means of a force pump and cyclone nozzle, for five or ten minutes. The emulsion so produced can afterward be dilated with water to any desired amount.’. This is in reality, as we have reason to know, quite misleading. What Professor Riley has said in reference to this matter is contained in the introduction to his last annual report as United States Entomologist : * In connection with the subject of kerosene emulsion, I may put on record here an important discovery made last spring, in carryiug out farther experiments at the office in emulsifying this oil. It is that the white of eggs with a little sugar may be used as a satisfactory substitute for milk where this is not accessible. If the white of 2 eggs, about three tablespoon, fulsof sugar, £ quart of water, and 1£ quarts of kerosene are worked through a force pump and cyclone nozzle for from 5 to 10 minutes, a cream-like emulsion is produced which can be diluted with water- to any desired amount without any separation of the oil; provided that the emulsion is not.allowed to stand for any length of time.’ This method of emulsifying kerosene oil is, as will be seen, suggested only as a substitute for milk where that is not accessible, The formula that Professor Riley has from the beginning recommended, and whioh is frequently attributed to others, is really that found to be most satisfactory in, experiments made under his direction by.G. H, Hubbard, in 1881. It is as follows : Kerosene ... .... 2gallons—67 per cent, Co.mrqon soap or whale- ' vtiT :: Heat the solution of soap and add it boil, ing hot to the kerosene. Churn the mixture by means of a force pump and spray nozzle for five or ten minutes. The emulsion, if perfect, forms a cream which thickens on cooling, and should, adhere without oiliness to the surface of glass. Dilute before using one part of the emulsion with nine parts of cold water. The above formula gives throe gallons of emulsion, and makes when diluted 30 gallons of wash.-—Scientific American.

EXMOOR SHEEP—A VANISHING RACE.

Exmoor sheep is on of the oldest breeds of sheep jn Great Britain, but is rapidly diminshing in numbers- Tfia race originated in the wild broken district skirting on the Bristol Channel known as the farest/of Exmoor. The entire region was originally oovorsd with dense woods, except wheie wild moorland predominated, and for a long time after the Norman conquest was preserved aa a royal forest. In this region of forest, hill and moor the Exmoor sheep found their subsistence for ages. They are small, the quarters weighing from twelve to sixteen pounds. The males aro horned, and have a tuft of silky wool pendant from the lower jaw, which gives them somewhat . the appearance of goats. They are bold and pugnacious, holding their own against sheep of much larger size. The females are much smaller than the males. The wool of the Exirioors Is long, soft and silkjr, and their mutton is o he finest quality, having a flavor much like

venison. They are very hardy and active, climbing precipitous places, with the agility of goats, and defying the restraints of ordinary fences. Like the other so-called forest breeds of sheep which for ages have inhabited the southwest of England, the Exmoors are being bred out by successive crossings with Leicester and other large breeds. While this system of crossing imparts greater weight to the progeny.it also diminishes their activity and power to shift for themselves. Tho cross-bred lambs are reared on the healthy pastures in summer, and are then brought to the lower and richer regions for fattening. The principal interest which these sheep have for Americans is connected with the question whether they can be pro fitably introduced to the mountain region between the plains and the Pacific. As the improved breeds of cattle have replaced the buffaloes upon the plains, it may be that the forest breeds of England and the Blaokfaoed sheep of Scotland will ultimately find subsistence upon the rocky heights now inhabited by the ‘ Bighorn ’ sheep and Rocky Mountain goat.

THE DOE SET HORNED SHEEP.

This breed of sheep has long been famous in England for producing both early and late lambs for market. The ewes generally yean twice each year, and drop a greater proportion of twins and triplets than any other breed. Originally the Dorsets were of small size, and not particularly well formed. But for some years past muoh attention has been paid by those keeping them" to increase their size, and improve them in all their points, and they have now become stout, fine-looking animals. This improvement has been accomplished by giving the sheep larger quantities of food of better quality, and more varied than formerly ; and also by selecting those of the more robust and perfect form from which to breed. The ewes usually yeen in October and November, and again in April and May. They are excellent nurses, and their lambs are ready for the butcher at ten to twelve weeks of age. For winter killing the ewes are often put to Southdown rams. After weaning their lambs they are quickly fattened when desired, and attain twenty to twenty-five pounds per quarter. Several importations of Dorsets have been made into our Western States during the past few years, for the purpose of breeding early lambs for the Eastern markets, in which we wish them abundant success.—American Agriculturist

BARLEY-GROWING IN INDIA.

The Government of Madras is putting forth a special effort to encourage the growing of barley on the hills. They have issued instructions for a memorandum to be prepared detailing the description of barley required for malting purposes, and stat ng the method in which it can be best grown and prepared for the market. They have also intimated to their civil officers that no opportunity should te lost of impressing upon the ryots the great advantage which will result to them in the way of obtaining a ready and remunerative market for grain, if carefully grown and prepared. That the experiment will ultimately prove a succes if energetically pushed there can be no reason to doubt.. Last year the exports of Punjaub barley from the port of Bombay amounted in value to eight lakhs of rupees, and of this three-fourths came to the Kingdom. This trade has sprung up only in the last year or two, but it now shows every chance of proving an important and thriving industry.—Albany Journal.