The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-05-21

made Dy duOlnS 10 nVe gallons OF water I'VE
pounds of arsenic and one pound Of sal
soda, and then boiling over a fire, in a
common iron pot, until all the arsenic was
dissolved. This makes solution of ar
senic that will keep for any length of tim:
without the slightest precipitation. We
have since learned that the common caustic
soda or concentrated lye'' will answer the
purpose equally as well as the sal soda, and
is cheaper
OF this solution one quart was put into
forty gallons of water, which was Their
sprinkled over field of wor1n-infested cot
ton in the usual way. 1t destroyed the
worms, which Were in strong force wher
the application was made, leaving the
plants uninjured to any extent worth nam
ing. Several similar tests were made, ali with
uniform success. Forty gallons were found
amply sufficient TO go over an acre of cotton
of ordinary growth.
In arsenic prepared as above we have q
remedy with which we can save our crops
from the cotton worm at a cost for the
poison at less than one cent and half per
acre. To this there must De added in the
final footing up of all outlays, the further
cost Of preparation and application. And
as to the cost Of the application, it is no
greater than that of any other liquid
remedy; indeed 1t should not be so great
owing TO the fact that the liquid is per-
feet solution, and therefore does not require
the agitation necessary TO keep in suspen-
sion the insoluble poisons, such
as London purple and Paris
green. The extra cost of prepar-
ing the saturated solution of arsenic
might be put down as very small item;
but we think this is more than Offset by the
advantages of having perfect solution at
the application, made in moment, without
the necessity of string and ''gauming'' for
an hour or so with some kind of coloring
matter, 'daubing" up ones clothes and
everything else around after manner that
could scarcely be considered entirely agree
able Nothing of this kind in preparing the
arsenic for the cotton feld-you pour
quart of clear solution into the bunghole of
a barrel containing forty gallons of water,
and all is ready. And then, as to the satur-
ated solution, since it will keep an indfinite
length of time it may be made at odd spells
when there is nothing else in particular
to do
We are aware that a strong prejudice ex-
lists against the use of arsenic as an in
secticide, the prejudice growing out of the
mere fact, doubtless. that arsenic is well
known by name as deadly poison. Many
persons who use London purple or Paris
green upon their cotton without hesitation,
could not be induced 10 use arsenic" under
any consideration. Nothing was ever more
foolish. The three remedies are really the
same, for the agent in both of the other
articles named qualifying them to destroy
the cotton worm is arsenic and nothing
else. Remove the arsenic from them and
they would be 10 more etfectual as in
secticldes than powdered chalk or common
road dust There is no. more danger at
tending the handling of pure arsenic than
there is in handling either London purple
or Paris green
The planter who uses arsenic as an insec-
ticide, preparing it in advance, as suggested
should have good whisky or oil barrel
for containing his solution until wanted.
This might be painted some bright color to
strongly distinguish it from all other bar
rels on the place, and it would be well to
have the word Arsenic or Poison painted
mot daubed) in large plain letters upon its
side. With such precaution as this, and
keeping the barrel well bunged and out of
the way of small children and livestock
there could certainly be no attendant
danger
The rule which we have given for prepar-
ing the second or diluted solution might not
hold good in every instance, on account of
variation in the quality of arsenic, though
we do not know that there is any very great
variation; certainly there must be little
danger of adulteration, for an article so
cheap would scarcely be looked upon as
holding out many inducements for anything
of that kind. A good and safe way TO set
this of thing all right-one that every
planter will understands TO make small
tests in advance of the general application
as follows
With some small vessel, as a tablespoon,
put together one hundred and sixty meas
ures of water and one measure of the satur-
ated solution of arsenic. This gives the
of one quart Of saturated solu-
ton TO forty gallons of water. Sprinkle
this thoroughly over an average hill of cot
ton and wait day or so for results, doing
it before the worms have put in destruc-
tive appearance, of course. If no sign is
left upon the plants the mixture is not
strong enough and you must repeat the ex-
pertinent with little larger proportion of
the saturated solution. If, on the other
hand. the plants show the leaves consider
ably scorched and damaged, the diluted So
with reduced proportion of the saturated
solution, measuring with great care, how
ever SO that you will be able to come ex-
actly at the extent of addition or reduction
when you make your diluted solution on
larger scale. If, after your application,
you find the leaves showing only an ex-
tremely slight mark or scorch-an occa-
sional leaf curled a little at the edges,
perhaps. and 4 small brownish or ''pie-
bald" spot here and there on some of their
diluted solution is Just
right. These very slight scorches are what
you want TO see-while they will not dam