The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-06-12
Paris Green in the Field, the Orchard
and in the Garden.

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AMERICAN AGRICULTURIsT. In procur-
ing the poison it is most important to
purchase from dealers who can guaran-
tee what they sell to be PURE. r. b.
Frazer, of this town, and f. B. Frazer,
druggist at Port Deposit, sell great
deal of the stuff, they inform US, and
warrant it to be prime. Farmers should |
be sure to require guarantee from
whom they purchase, that what they
buy is pure; otherwise they will lose
both labor and potatoes:
THAT persons have been injured |
while using Paris Green, we have no
doubt That any injury has resulted
from the eating of potatoes, fruits, or
other products of plants to which this
poison has been applied, we do not be-
lieve We do not say that it is impos-
sible that this can happen, but we do
say that tons and tons of Paris Green
have been used in various parts of the
country, to kill the potato bug and other
insects, and there has come to our
knowledge no instance of injury result
ing from eating the products of the
plants thus treated, nor any analysis,
showing the presence of arsenic in these
plants or their products. Did we know
or suspect that the slightest injury
might occur in this manner, we should
at once discountenance the use of the
poison. 1t is necessary that the very
deadly character of this poison should
be known in order to insure care in its
| use
No person with scratched or cut
hands should apply it, and whoever
uses it should avoid handling it, avoid
breathing the dust, and everywhere and
all the time keep in mind the absolute
dangerous character of the article 1t
should be stored out of reach as care
fully as gunpowder, and its application
should not be entrusted to careless or
ignorant person. There are two meth
DDS of applying it: in the dry state,
diluted with some dry powder, and in
the liquid state, suspended in water.
There are various qualities of Paris
Green in the market; the best makers,
to their shame be it said, make several
brands; in other words, adulterate it at
the factory. There is no ready test
which one can apply to ascertain the
purity of the article, and the only way
is to buy of responsible parties, who
will properly represent its quality. For
use in the dry state, flour is found to be
the best to mix with the poison, as it
adheres to the leaves better than plas-
ter, which is sometimes used. With
the pure poison one part to twenty of
-four is sufficient. Some kind of a sift-
ing arrangement must be provided, with
a long handle. An apparatus which
can be readily made by any tin worker
was shown in the AGRICULTURIsT last
month. Of course some other contriv-
ance that will answer the purpose may
be substituted; even wide-pouthed
bottle, with muslin tied over the mouth,
has been successfully used. Always
keep to the windward, and by every
possible precaution avoid breathing the
dust 1t takes but little, properly ap-
piled, and even distribution is of more
consequence than a large quantity In
applying Paris Green in the wet way,
remember it is not soluble in water, but
is only diffused through and suspended
in it, hence it must not be allowed to
settle to the bottom of the vessel. Ere
quent and thorough stirring must be
attended to. A tablespoonful of the
poison to an ordinary pailful of water
is the quantity used. 1t may be applied
by means of watering pot, or by the
use of some of the various garden force
pumps sold by seedsmen and at the i'm
plement stores. In using be careful
not to wet the skin with the liquid, and
if it gets upon the hands or elsewhere,
have water near by to wash it off at
once. When force pump is used, the
liquid can be kept stirred by now and
then directing the stream into the pail
containing it.
The chief use of Paris Green is to
kill the Colorado potato beetle and the
cotton worm it has been successfully
applied in the liquid way to kill canker
worms on apple and other trees, and
has been used also on squash and other
vines in the garden. OF course it will
not be proper to apply it to cabbages or
other plants of which the foliage, or
other parts which can retain the poison
on the surface, is eaten.
We repeat that Paris Green is a most
dangerous poison and must be used
with full knowledge of this fact
Store it where by no accident others
can have access to it. Use it in such
manner that no harm can come to the
operator. See that the pals and other
vessels are used for nothing else. Final
ly, do not use it at all if any other
means for destroying insects will &C
complish the end"