Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1882-03-16
HISTORY OF PYRETHRUM.

| There are very few data at hand concern.
ing the discovery of the insecticide proper.
ties OF Pyrethrnm. The powder has been
IN use for many years in Asiaic countries
south OF the Caucasus mountains. 1t was
sold at high price by the inhabitants. who
successfully kept its nature secret until
the beginning OF this century, " hen an Ar
menian merchant, Mr.. Jumt,kot1, learned
that the powder was obtained from he dried
and puyerized flower-heads of certain spe-
cies OF Pyrethrl,m growing abundantly in
the mountain region OF what is known as
the Russian province of Transcaucasia. The
son OF Mr.. Jumtikof began the manufac-
ture of the article on large scale in 1928,
after which year the Pyrethrum industry
steadily grew, until to-day the export OF the
dried tlower-heads represents an important
item in the revenue OF those countries.
Still less seems to be known OF the discov.
cry and history of the Dalmatian species of
Pyrethrum (Pyrethrum cenerariae folium),
but it is very probable that its history is
similar to that OF the Asatic species. At
the present time the Pyrethrum flowers are
considered by far the most valuable product
of the soil of Damatia. @ ..s
There is ase very little information pub
lished regarding either the mode of growth
or the cultivation OF Pyrethrum plants in
their native home. AS to the Caucasian
species. we have reason to believe that they
are are not cultivated at least not at the
present time, statements to the contrary
notwithstanding. The well-known Dr.. Gus
tave Radde, director fthe Imperial Museum
of Natural History at TihiS, Transcaucasia,
who is the highest living authority on every
thing pertaining to the natural history of
1.-The only species of its genus, Pyrethruna
roseun4, which gives good, effective insect
powder is nowhere cultivated, but grows
wild in the basal-alpine zone of oar moun-
tans at an altitude of from 5000 to 5000
feet" From this 1t appears that this species
at least is not cultivated in its native home,
and DR.. Radde's statement is corroborated
by a communication of Mr.. s. M. Hutton,
Vice Consul General of the United States at
Moscow, Russia, to whom we applied tor
seed of this species. He writes that his
agents were not able to get more than about
half a pound OF the seed from any one per-
son. From this statement it may he infer
red that the seeds have to be gathered from
the wild and not from the cultivated plants.
AS to the Dalmatian plant, it is also said
to he cultivated in its native home. but we
can get no definite information on this score,
owing to the fact that the inhabitants are
very unwilling to give aay information re-
gardng plant, the product OF which they
wish to monopolize. For similar reasons
we have found great difficulty in obtaining
even small quantities of the seed of p. cir
that was not baked or ia other
ways tampered with to prevent germina-
ton. Indeed. the people are SO jealous of
their plant that to send the seed cut of the
becomes serious matter, in which
lite is risked. @
The seed of Pyreth,un roseam is obtained
with less difficulty, at least in small quanti-
les. and it has even become an article of
commerce, several nurserymen here, as well
Is In Europe, advertising it in their cata-
ogues. The species has been successfully
grown as garden plant for its pale rose or
bright pink tiower-rays Mr.. Thomas Nee
IAN. of Germantown, Pa, writes us: 81
lave had plant OF Pyreth'z1n roseuns in my