Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-30

Paris green is arsenic in soluble compound
with copper 1t is perhaps one of the most
deadly poisons-worse even than the white
arsenic of the shops-as its peculiar state
when combined with copper, renders it much
more readily assmilated by the stomach If
great care be exercised not to inhale the dry.
green powder. or drink any of the soluble ar
senic before being combined with the copper
or afterward, people may be readily employ
ed i'll handling 1t without danger TO life. Still
it is altogether too viruent poison for g-
norant people or children to NEEDLE with or
apply it to any use As to any substitutes for
the destruction of the Colorado beetle none
as yet have been found at all effective. Num-
beers of nostrums have been tried, but with
out any certain effect being produced on the
insect.
Numbers of plans have been tried and pub
lished for applying Paris green to potatoes
1t has been mixed with II to 20 times its
weight in -four and so busted over the plant.
This is f very defective and at the same time
very expensive plan. First, it is certain to
fly about and attach itself to the hands and
clothes of the operator-unless the atmos-
phere is perfectly calm-and if the wind
blows at all excessively, n light cloud of it
will be waited to the mouth aud nostrils with
certain injurious effects to the man using it.
Second, it does not adhere to the leaf of the
plant as effectively as it does with other
modes of applying it. Third, it is apt to blow
away as soon as the wind rises, even if it is
applied when the atmosphere is perfectly
calm; and fourth, the flour costs much mon
ey, and the poison is not so thiuly and even
ly distributed as by other means.
10 meet these objections water has been
used after the powder has been thoroughly
mixed with it. This is a much better plan,
and far more effective, but is still open to
grave objections. The powder is almost as
heavy as white lead, and onsequently cannot
be kept long in suspension in water during
its application and while being sprinkled over
the vines, and when the sun dries the leaves
or n shower of rain falls there are many parts
on which the insect can feed with IMMUNITY,
especially if it be windy season.
These objections are all met by the follow
ing: Take POO gallons of water quite free
from the smallest notes or particles of roots
unless quite free it must be carefully strain
ed; add to this sufficient thin perfectly free
from mmps) flour paste, enough to make the
water slightly gelatinous; strain carefully be-
fore mixing IN the largc yessel-this is most
important; take two and a half pounds of
pure, unauthorized Paris green and mix with
some water strain this also in the larger yes
sell and with paddle thoroughly stir up all
together. If the water be made of the re-
quired consistency it will support by suspen-
sion very large portion, if not all of the
green powder-At all events it will do SO by
agitating it now and then, and if the powder
be perfectly free in its particles and from
heavy adulteration there will not be found
much difficulty in applying the liquor on ac-
count of heavy deposits.
Now commence to use the mixture Fill
an ordinary gallon wateriug-pot Chaving
first ascertainod that the holes in the rose are
fine enough to let very fine stream pass
through them), which should also be so con
..fsnN tod 10, 4.
than the row of potato crops. A little prac-
tice will enable a sensible man to walk rapid
ly along the row and apply the two gallons to
about 200 feet of each row, and the POO gal
Ions will be found sufficient for an acre. OF
course no further rule can be laid down. as
much depends on the size of the holes in the
rose and the speed of the operator.
The thin paste is cheap, aud supports the
powder in suspension during its application
1t also affords an adhesive medium to cause
the powder to adhere, in a very thin particle,
to the leaves. The stalks are not usually eat
en- by the insect. 1t also prevents the loss of
the powder by shower of rain or a windy
day. And last but not least, it retains the
poison on the leaf of the potato until the
younger insect feeds on it. which would not
he the case if some adhesive matter were not
used.
1t will readily be understood that these in
aud sizes and ages on the same plant. To
the old ones outward applications are not al
ways ehectual directly, but they must eat
somewhat, sooner or later; but to the young
er insects in their various stages, both where
applied outwardly and taken into the stomach,
the Paris green is sure death. More partic-
ularly, however, is it applicable in the latter
case, rs all the Larvae are most rayenous, and
are continually eating.
SO deadly is this application, that a row of
moderate-sized potato-tops on which thou
sands of insects are feeding to-day will be al
together cleared and relieved of them in
twenty-fOur hours afterward. Some few of
the old ones win fall down and crawl up
again, but their fate is only a question Of
time they must eat, and do not appear to be
able 10 discriminate between the leaf that is
poisoned and the one that is not have Of
ten seen one single application most effect
ually cure the evil for that time, and result in
splendid crop of Early Rose potatoes. OF
course, if the late varieties are planted the
beetle may have a chance of a second attack
from outside sources or from unmatched eggs
or eggs laid later 10y some old female who re-
fused to feed when she ought to have done so,
but a second application is all that is ever re-
quired Cattle must not on any considera-
ton be admitted into the field where Paris
green has been used, not even during the