Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-06-14
PERSIAN INSECT POWDER.

We had the pleasure in May las: ct
seeing the Pyrethrum growing in tue
propagating garden attached to the Pat
ent Office. 1t has been tried there aud
found very fatal to insects 1t is posi-
Die that it may prove preventive against
the attacks of the borer in the Peach and
in the Apple Eds.
"For long period, a preparation was
used throughout the Russian Caucasus
Tor the destruction of injurious
ins, cts. and was regarded as a
serlet TO the rest Of the world, until its
properties became known to MIR. Jumti-
koff'. an Armenian merchant. while tray
cling through that country some forty
or ftty years ago. He communicated
his discovery tn his son, who manufsc-
.urcd the article in 1928. This powder
or the plant from which il was obtained,
WAS sonn after introduced into Alexan-
dropol and subsequently into Germany.
where its popularity is r.pidly increasing.
There were several plants similar in
character, called by botauists 'pyreth-
rum carueum, Pyrethrum roseum and
Pyrethrum purpureum' persian can.'uo-
ril.. Aea- grass or fra-ki ler,) from
which this powder is procured, consist
;ur of small perennial shrubs, from IL TO
Is inches in hight, bearing flowers an
inch and half In diameter rnd reese IL
bling those of the-eye daisy, (Chrys.n
th,ram lsuconthemuna) except in color.
They grow ON the mountains Of tho Cau-
c,sus, ut an elevation Of 5, $50 feet above
the level of the sea, i'll temperature Of
$50 +. They are of easy cultivation in
oar,lens, and since their hardness have
bee me knowa, trey have been introduce
cd into Germany. Holland and France.
for the purpose of ornament. where they
helm TO flower in June. They will -four
In any ordinary garden soil, and may be
propayatcd by layers as well as by seeds
The parts Of the plants from which
thc pow der is made are the dried flower
heads. gathered, when ripe, on fine days
and usually dried by exposure to the sun;
but they have been found to be more
seryiceable when dried in the shade, dur
ing which operation they are occasional
!, turned In the process Of desiccation
,hey Fcse about 90 per cent When
prrieo,tv dried, thy are 6,st COM
minuted with the hand, and thon reduced
IN ,y,ler in a small mill
A quantity Of these plants grown up
on 10 square rods is estimated to farn-
;sb 100 pounds Of powder, which is best
preserved in sealed vessels Of glass The
ano6rn-iun is made either as a powder
O, as M Infusion, though in the latter
form. i. 10 more beneficial, especially
when Intended for the destruction of in
sects on plants The dried leaves only
sbou, b. use for an infusion, as the
ere.n ,aps are Intellectual. The powder
ma be applied directly to the insects
"a n>e!yes. or in the places which they
freo,eut They are attracted by its smell
become stupe6ed, and Immediately die.
This substance may be employed with
On. injury to the larger animals
or men. II is estimated that the amount
of this powder consumed. Per annum.
in Russia alone, is nearly 1000. 900
pounds =,
At present, there are more than TWEEN
t. villages in the district of Alexandra
pool engaged cultivating the plant and
collecting its flowers and leaves. ~
S. Potent 0Gcs Report. 1857.