The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-03-04
PARIS GREEN ON TOBACCO.
DR.. II. 3 Battle, of the North Carolina
Agricultural Experiment Station,
Writes Upon This Subject.

practice IN North Carolina and in
other States, notably Kentucky, where
by Paris green IS used 10 spray or dust
growing tobacco 10 destroy horn worm,
bud worm and flea beetle. THIS Paris
green, as you know, contains arsenic
which IS poisonous III suttlcIent doses
The strength Of the solution for spray
ing Is about four ounces Of Paris green
to barrel, or 50 gallons Of water, and
the application Of spray IS about three
times during the season. Inc question
naturally arises whether this use Of
Paris green Will he detrimental to the
future sale and use ofthe tobacco.
The quantity Of arsenic which has
been ascertalned to exist on the toDaC
CO leaf, as determined by the Kentucky
Experiment Station, varies from a
trace up TO o.287 grains of white ar
senic per pound of dry tobacco leaf,
with the most favorable conditions for
the retention OF Paris green upon the
leaf. The minimum fa,al dose IS
about TO ~ grains Of arsenic taken
at one time Applied to the quantity
of tobacco mentioned, 1t would take
about seven ponds OF tobacco leaf
swallowed at one time in order 10 pro-
duce a possible fatal dose. TO swallo"
this quantity IS out Of the question and
i, seems impossible for an Objection
J.. 4 l,. tak int
as tobacco Chewers are not IN the habit
of swallowing the small amount Of TO-
bacco they use.
Whether the continued use of this
tobacco with the largest amount of ar
senic noted above would result in any
Objectionable effect is a different ques-
ton. 1t IS not reas unable, however, to
suppose, under the conditions, that
this could be possible. Arsenic itself
is given as medicinal dose in some
sections, especially fer malarlal dis
eases and used as tonic. l. IS POS
sIble, therefore, that the small Tlf any
at ALI quantity that might be detained
under the most favorable circumstan-
ces instead Of proving objectionable,
might prove advantageous to the health
Of the chewer In Kentucky, where
the practice Of spraying tobacco in
this way is followed, many growers do
not hesitate to chew their own tobacco
sprayed in this way and no harmful
results have ever been noted.
Spraying as above to destroy the
worms named is a very effective rem
edy and would result in their destruC
ton before the leaf is ragged, and a
consequent marketing ota better grade
and more even leaf. The main ques-
ton, however, is whether the Consum
ers of tobacco, whether by chewing or
smoking, would be apt to be deferred
from using this tobacco, even though
there is no harm whatever that might
come from it. Otentlmes sCares, al
though they may be senseless, have
quite materially affected the sale Of
crude products. This has been nota-
bly, the case in the early history of
fruit growing, where spraying with
Paris green had been USED to destroy
insects or fungous diseases upon grape
vines and fruit trees. This scare, how
ever, has died out, and is never heard
of at present. Paris green is now uni
versally used as spray for fruits and
no harm has ever resulted.
| write you at length and will ask
you to kindly write me your opinion
upon the subject as to whether the
process of tobacco treated in this way
would be affected in the market.
Kindly consider the question not only
from a warehouseman's standpoint,
but from the users and the dealers
standpoint The matter is a very in
portant one and l will thank you to
write me as soon as possible.
Very respectfully,
H. B. BATTLE, Director.