Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-13
VOL. l.. NEW SERIES. VOL. XIII.
AGRICULTURAL.
MODES OF ArPLYING PARIS GEEES.
From the Montreal Star.


From the Montreal Star.
The disadvantage, dangers and waste at
tending the use OF dry arsenical powders suci
| as Parls green, and white arsenic, are SO oh
vious to those who have practically applied
them that many efforts have been made, botl
| in Canada and in the States, to substitute
diffusion of the poison by water not ncces
sarily in solution, but in suspension, SO that
as the wnter evaporates. Il .fliH et poison Is ief
on tn i'g. \ growing balance OF testimony
| Is IN favor of tins mode of distribution. The
| experiments which havo been conducted IN
tins neighborhood under the direction ol
| The Star Commissioners confirms the adyan-
tnges of this method of application of the
| remedy in preference to that of dry dusting.
by the busting process a great waste is nee
essarIly incurred, and the lungs and clothing
of the operator become more or less mpreg-
mated with the flying cloud of poison. On
the other hand, when sprinkled from water
hose, the poison operates at once, mechanl-
| cally and noNlously, upon the insect (espe-
! clally upon the larya or grub) and so covers
1t that II is speedily destroyed If struck, and
If not, enough poison is left ON the vines to
Kill the grub when 1t again feeds upon them.
Our Commission has Just operated upon
Mr. Crawford's farm at Ncriun, which was
thoroughly infested with the beetle in all its
stages. On some plants the number of in
liyiduals might be reckoned by the hundreds
exclusive of eggs. Experiments were made
on this thIckly infested field
list. With Paris Green, one part to ten
parts of finely ground mineral phosphate.
ID. Hearn's Arsenical Compound, one part
to ten parts of refuse gas lime.
Sd. Refuse gas lime, alone.
lth. Lymans Phosphorous Soap
9TH. Paris Green, dlffused in water
These remedies We're applied on contigu-
ouS patches, and the preference being given
to liquid diffusion, the following apparatus
was employed for this purpose
LIST. The Pneumatic Fire, Extinguisher,
patented by Messrs. Murphy and Heare
This consists of metallic cylinder, which is
first charged with the liquid; the condensed
air is compressed into the cylinder by force
pump, which, by its exhaustion is the agent
by which the liquid is projected. The cylin-
der, containing about five gallons of the
liquid preparation, is easily carried on a man s
back, like Babcock's Extinguisher, and the
liquid is forced through flexible hose, either
through fine rose or bat-Ning Jet, enabling
the operator to throw a shower of considera-
BILE volume with great rapidity. and to direct
1t with certainty on the plants most infested
Charged with the PHOSPHORUS soap, this ap-
paratus proved highly effective, killing in n
few minutes large number of Grubs, and
better, still larger number beng found
among the slain on the following day. Ii
also completely cleared large current bush,
which was leatless from the attacks Of the
current worm. Care must be taken not to
use this preparation too strong, or in aka
line condition, as it may curl up the young
buds and tops of the potato vines. 1t does
not, however, at all injure rose, currant, or
gooseberry bushes, while it completely de-
stroys their caterpillars. The cost of this
apparatus is S25. but beside its useful appli-
cation i'll the field, it is also a good hose for
cleaning windows, carriages and stables, for
washing cattle and horses, and extinguishing
fires. as 1t throws good stream of water
about sixty feet 1t is simple in construction
and easily charged
Whitman's Fountain Pump, in the hands
of Mr.. Kerr. proved also very effective and
portable apparatus for the purpose. In this
case, the liquid is conveyed to the field in a
barrel. and is carried along the rows in ordi-
nary buckets. 1t is equally available for q
PHOSPHORUS solution, an arsenical solution
or for diffusion of Paris green. 1t is essen
TALLY syringe, with flexible hose. and pro-
Jects the liquid within through a hose Jet in
intermittent streams OF considerable force.
Its cost is ten dollars, and it is also a most
useful instrument about farm or country
house for cleansing and washing purposes,
and also as tire-extinguisher with nozzle
adapted for continuous jet OF water. In
these experiments it did its work well and
appeared TO be a particularly handy appara-
tus not liable TO get ont Of order.
Peck's Liquid Atomizer was another most
ingenious contrivance which appeared to be
the acme of perfection in the application of
Paris green in the most economical and least
dangerous manner, combined with consider
able efficiency. 1t consists of a thin reser-
voir, holding about two gallons of water, in
which about one pound Of Paris green is diff
fused; this is attached to the back of the
operator like knapsack. and from this
small rubber tubing connects with long
nozzle held in the left hand: the liquid flows
by gravitation into this nozzle through n
small aperture across which is placed a blow
pipe after the fashion OF the perfume atomi-
Zers or spray diffuscrs. The wind TO keep
this in full bias: is furnished by n revolving
fan placed on the operators right side and
turning n small handle with his right hand
$50 the man blows" The aspect of the man
is most picturesque, as with straps and band
ages all around him, he bestrides the rows,
grinding his silent music TO the unconscious
bugs: sharing the laurels of orphans and Of
St. Patrick, but looking more like Pied
montese organ-grinder" The work. how
ever, which Is done. whilst almost microsco-
pic, is slngularly effective, and it satisfies us
upon an important point, viz. that while the
phosphorous rs Il poison kills by contact,
Pari green kills only by intestinal absorp-
ton, that is by eating and true poisoning.
The amount of Paris green thus distributed
Is 50 small that IT cannot be distinguished on
the green leaf. II is so gently diffused that
II does not, as III the other spray apparatus.
knock the bugs into the furrow. They eat
the leaf and die round the stems of the
vines.
This method is, therefore, so far as The
Star Commissioners have experimental the
most economical effective and least danger
ous form of the application of arsenic, and
where common sense, a little skill in keep
ing the apparatus in ,order, and some judg-
ment in relation to Il second application il
exercised, We should pronounce this as the
best and cheapest potato hug eXterminator.
1t costs about sl2, and although only useful
for the destruction Of similar vermin, in this
respect, and especially for use in a conserva-
tory, 1t has every advantage.
The last method of application TO notice, is
by the rough-and-ready pail and common
corn whisk. This may effectually answer
the purpose, but as compared to the other
methods, it is plan wasteiul both OF mate
rial and labor
We think, therefore. that preference should
be given to the liquid method of diffusion by
spray. At the same time, We find good re-
suits from llearn's arsenical powder, and
from refuse gas-lime, applied i'll the dry state,
and We commend the latter especially use
iul IN the furrows between the potato rows,
as eiiectual in killing both laNn and pupa,
and IN nreYentlnr the hnrrnMiIp of the