Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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A Promising New Spray Material Since the publication of the formula for what is known as nicotine oleate in th,e “Journal of Economic Entomology,” several preliminary trials have seemed to give both good and indifferent results, but no definite conclusions regarding its usefulness can yet be arrived at. The writer has made tests with this insecticide on several greenhouse plants and can report very satisfactory results as far as his own few experiments are concerned. It seems to be especially effective when emulsified with kerosene, and, unlike ordinary kerosene emulsion, leaves no oily r.esidue on the plant and is less likely to injure the foliage. There is also an advantage in the ease with which it can be prepared. One ounce of oleic acid, commonly known as “red oil ' is mixed with eight ounces of kerosene. In another vessel two ounces of nico fume is mixed with eight ounces of wat.er. The two mixtures are then combined and stirred vigorously, with the result that a creamy white emulsion is formed, which is to be used as the stock solution. This stock solution has been used at the rate of one ounce to two gallons of water on K.entia palms highly infested with Spanish Red scale, with the result that 95 per cent, of the scales were killed and no injury occurred to even the most tender growth after an interval of a month. Palms, orchids and Boston ferns did not show foliage injury. 'This promis.es to be a very promising spray for such pests as the Rhododendron lace bug. wooly aphis and young larvae of the oyster shell scale, elm scale and other soft-bodied insects. It is expected that one of the larger nurseri.es will test its usefulness in control of these pests during the present SUmmer JAS. K. PRIMM, Assistant State Nursery Inspector. 13

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The trees have personalities. Where can one, tired in mind and body, find a more restful place to lie than under a hemlock tree? How expressive of hospitality and sympathy is the widespreading elm, with its arching branches! But who would go for consolation to the shade of a Lombardy poplar? We may not own one rod of ground, yet the trees and shrubs offer us a wealth of ever-changing beauty and interest, that may be ours, if we hut see and understand it. 1QHN LINDLEY DOAN. i STARS Last year, his service flag with star of blue Hung from my window, gay and brave. Proclaiming proudly to the world that he (and I?) had gone to war Through bitter cold, the blinding snow and biting sleet It beat against the pane, reminding me of him, And looking out I saw—no, not the flag with star of blue— But my boy, “standing his watch” high on the swaying main mast, Trying to pierce the night with brave young eyes, Calling from time to time to those who watched below: “All’s well—All’s well.” Tonight—a golden star shines high in Heaven’s deep sea blue—his star. My boy rests safe within the harbor’s calm. No storm-tossed ship—no lurking shark-like foe, No bitter cold nor cutting winds, nor bugle calls to watch or fight, Can wake him from a sleep so unlike that of youth— I stifle my sobs and still the beating of my heart, To listen, listen, listen. Was it his voice or just the teasing wind that calls: “All’s well, Mother.” MARY GOODWIN HUBBELL. 12

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Letters Miss Lee sailed for England on the steamer Baltic, of the White Star Line, on May 22nd, arriving in Liverpool ten days later. Her ship letters tell of a pleasant voyage. “I will be really sorry when we reach port, but we have been planning a wonderful trip and have it fairly mapped out now,” she writes. Her companion on the trip is Miss Hilda Loines, of Brooklyn, member of the Council of the Farm and Garden Association, and of the New York Horticultural and Botonical Societies. She is much interested in all progressive horticultural work and thought, and in the object of Miss Lee’s trip—the study of schools and gardens. Another letter written from Chester tells of gardens seen in that vi cinity and of their future plans. On leaving Chester, they were to go to Dublin to see the Botonical Gardens and to visit Sir Horace Plunkett, the well known Irish patriot, who has devoted his life to the rehabilition of Ireland, and who has travelled in this and other countries in search of information and experience which would be of use to this cause. The great increase in agricultural wealth in Ireland owes much to his leadership. Recrossing to Holyhead, a few days will be spent in Wales, then to London where several weeks will be spent in visiting the gardens of that part of England. Among the interesting people to be seen will be Miss Helen Wilmott, who writes about roses, and her garden, and Miss Gertrude Jekyl author of “Home and Garden,” “Old West Surrey,” and other books, who lives in Surrey, between Godaming and Guilford, a wonderful woman who has spent her life in her garden but deserted it during the war to work in munition plants. Now old and spent and almost blind, she can return to her garden. Her house, almost as wonderful as herself, is built of oak beams cut from her own place and of the old Surrey flints; it was designed by Sir ;Edwin Luty.ens, the architect of the New City of Delhi, in India, and many other houses in Surrey, and furnished with old oaken furniture and pewter ware. When Miss Lee returns there will be many things to hear about. She expects to reach Ambler about the middle of August. —EMMA BLAKiSTON. From Miss Exley on her proposed trip to England this summer:— Philadelphia, June 19, 1920. Many thanks for your letter this morning, asking for a little outline of my trip to England for Wise Acres. Thru the American Forestry Association, I have received introduc-rions to Jrmes A. Maco'm, Escp, of Roads of Remembrance Association, London. Roads of Remembrance are being planted thruout the British Isles in memory of the soldiers as we are planting tribute trees in this country. They are interested in our tree markers and some of the shield markers used by the American Forestry Association are being sent over for their inspection. 14