The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-24
NEW I%NHECTICIDE.

As a result Of extensive tests during
1912. 1918 and 1914 with different In
s~ecticldes. the entomologists Of. the
department have found that calcium
a%rsenate, a new insecticide. gives very
promising results in the control of
certain insects. that do damage by
chewing on fruit trees. Among the
chewing insects against which the
%arsenate OF calcium proved effective.
in laboratory and field tests conducted
at Benton Harbor. Mich. are the
codling moth. the fall webworm. the
tent caterpillar and the tussock moth.
The details OF the various experiments
are published in Department Bulletin
No. 27s. Miscellaneous Insecticide In
vestigations."
In these tests the effects of ~arsenate
OF calcium, both alone and combined
Win lime-sulphur solution. were
tested in comparison with arscnatc of
lead lone and in combination with
lime-sulphur. The arsenate Of call
CUM. as was the arsenate of lead,
was used at the rate of two pounds
10 each fifty gallons of water. In all
the experiments the arsenate of cal
cium gave very satisfactory results in
killing the larva without burning the
foliage. In a number Of cases its
Killing action was somewhat slower
uan. but compared favorably with, the
arsenate of lead. Since it car be pro-
duced more cheaply than the lead
arsenate II would appear to have dis
tinct value, although 1t has not been
sufficiently tested to permit recon-
mendinG 1t unreservedly for general
use. Where arsenate OF calcium was
combined with lime sulphur IL was.
as a rule, even more effective as a
poisoning agent thar when used alone
and did not lessen the value OF the
latter as a fungicide. When these
compounds are combined. the amount
or foliage consumed by the larvp is
less than where the arsenate OF cal
cium is used alone. In tests in 1914
a commercial a%rsenate of calcium
tpaste). arsenic oxid 1852 per cent.
with ~lime-sulphur solution gave very
excellent control of the COdling moth
in comparison with arsenate of lead
and with unsprayed plats. When
arsenate OF calcium was used. 1873
per cent. OF the apples were sound;
arsenate of lead shovel 99.44 per
cent # sound apples. while in the
unsprayed test plats only 5S.7l per
cent. OF the apples were free from
damage.
The following will be found 10 be
a convenient way of making home
made arsenate of calcium:
Stone lime go per cent. Cso) pounds. SIS
Sodium arsenate. fused tdry powdered
80 per cent. As,o,..,..,,,.. pounds. 100
water gallons. 70
Place the stone lime In a wooden
container and add a small amount OF
water. just enough to start shaking.
When shaking is well under way pour
In the sodium %arsenate, which should
first have been dissolved in hot water.
Keep stirring until the J. lie has thor
oughly slaked. Sufficient water should
be added from time to time to prevent
burning.
The resulting arsenate Of calcium
should contain about IS per cent, Of
arsenic oxid. In making this COM
pound II will of course he necessary TO
know approximately the calcium oxid
and arsenic Oxid content of the ma
terials employed and to vary the for
mula accordingly. The by-product Is
largely sodium hydroxid, which should
be decanted II the insecticide IL to be
used on tender foliage.
"Beans and Similar Vegetables as
Food" has recently been issued by the
State College of Agriculture at Ith-
C and may be had free on applica-
ton by any resident OF the State. A
few extracts are given below from this
bulletin:
Ten cents spent for dried beans,
peas or lentils will obtain from two
to three times as much tissue building
material for the body as II spent for
beef. eggs or milk at prevailing
prices. Moreover. these vegetables
when cooked In an appetizing way