The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-02-15


ture, sale. or transportation of adulter-
ated or branded fungicides, Paris
green's, lead arsenate, and other IN
secticides and for regulating traffic
therein" is of interest to every frult
and truck grower and user of insecti-
cides. Users of insecticides and fungi
cides have had sufficient experience
with cheap substitutes for standard
articles and with various quack rem
edies to appreciate the necessity Tor
such legislation, and but few states at
the present time have any laws to in
sure the purity of insecticides and
fungicides.
Inasmuch as practically all of these
are manufactured in less than half a
dozen states, it would seem that much
the simplest way to insure the control
of their purity is by national super
vision of those which go into interstate
commerce. Otherwise, every state will
need to enact legislation and provide
all the machinery for the collection
and analysis of insecticides and fungi
cides used in that state. BY having the
work done by federal agency, it can
be done much more cheaply and effec-
lively Furthermore, the differences
in the state laws make it difficult for
the manufacturer to put up his goods
to comply with all of them. There can
be no question that there is fully as
much necessity for the control and
Of i,oCo mr. fnnOiCi6QS
as for fertilizers or drugs.
Two products which have recently
come into popular favor show the nee
essity for such legislation very strong
ly Arsenate of lead has come into
wide use as an insecticide for orchard
and shade tree pests, during the past
few years. Recent analysis shows that
while it should contain IL to Is per
cent of arsenious oxide, one brand con-
tains but or per cent, and is a very
palpable fraud, although practically all
of the other brands are approximately
mixtures, and similar fungicides have
recently been placed on the market by
several manufacturers. Many of these
have very distinct merits for those who
. are using but Small Quantities, but
some contain a very small amount of
copper sulphate and are relatively in
efficient even when used according to
directions, and exceedingly expensive
in any event. Inspection and analysis
which would show the exact value of
these goods would tend to their stand
ardization and would be of distinct
value to the consumer
The bill now before Congress seeks
to prevent the manufacture in any ter
ritory or the distribution in inter-
state commerce of any insecticide or
fungicide which is adulterated or mis-
branded as defined in the act. The
standards for the purity of Paris green
and lead arsenate are defined in the
bill. Other insecticides and fungicides
are considered adulterated if the
strength or purity fall below the pro-
fessed standard, under which they are
sold; if any substance has been substi-
tuted for the article; if any valuable
constituent of the article has been alb
stracted; or if the use of the article on
vegetation is injurious to vegetation
when used as recommended by the
manufacturers.
The misbranding of insecticides or
fungicides is defined to include: Any
labelling of a package, which is false
or misleading; if the article be an imi-
tation, or offered for sale under the
name of another article; or if the con-
tents are stated in terms of weight or
measure they are not plainly or cor
rectly stated on the outside of the
package. Insecticides and fungicides