Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1916-11-08
INSECTICIDES ARE
NOW more Pure
Manufacturers Are Meeting Re-
quirementS of Law.


That the insecticide and fungicide
act of 1910 has resulted in marked
improvement in the quality of insec-
ticides and fungicides entering inter
state commerce is shown by the an
nual report of the Insecticide and
Fungicide Board of the department
for the fiscal year ended June 80.
1916. Persistent sampling of four of
the leading substances used in spray
ing shows a marked reduction in the
number of violations of the act com
pared to preceding years In 1915 only
per cent of the samples of lead
arsenate taken were in violation o.
the act, where as in 1882, so per
cent violated the law. Similarly the
violations found in lime-sulphur So
lutions had fallen from 81 per cent
to IA per cent. and Bordeaux mixture
from 9S per cent to 36 per cent.
Only 10 per cent of The shipments Of
Paris green examined showed any
violation. where as in 1912, 2S
per cent of these shipments We're OBJ
jectionable.
While these results are probably
due partly to the effect of deterrent
prosecutions. they are due in even
greater measure to the assistance the
departments scientists have accord
ed to manufacturers in making their
products of standard strength and
to the growing practice on the par
of manufacturers of adapting them
selves to improved methods and
tests.
In this work during the past year
the inspectors collected LAST sam.
pies of different shipments OF these.
100 were of insecdeidal preparations
for househald use and 221 We're OF
disinfectants, germieides, and bac-
tericides for The prevention of dis
eases of human beings as well as Of
domestic animals. The department
during the past year has given par
tieular attention TO the prevention of
the sale in interstate commerce of
products recommended for house
hold use which are either impotent
or the value of which is misrepre-
scented on labels Many samples OF
arsenates, Bordeaux mixtures sui
phur, and other preparations also
were taken.
In preventing the Importation Of
misbranded or adulterated insecti-
cides. the Insecticide and Fungicide
Board collected So import samples
In the case Of 5 preparations it was
recommended that entry into this
country be entirely forbidden or that
the, consienments be released only
after being correctly labeled In g
other cases it was recommended
that future shipments be detained.
The remaining samples complied
with the law
The board deyotes considerable at
tention 10 inyestisational work fer
the determination of the value Of
various commercial insecticides and
fungicides II announces thar # has
under way tests of The merits Of
commercial dust and liquid spray
in the control Of insects and diseases
These viii include tests of articles
composed of finely ground sulphur
in combination With arsenate of le5d.
with diluent such as finely erouad
lime or gypsum. The board also is
investigating the value oG different
commercial yprethrum powders. TO-
bacco powders, nicotine solutions.
etc. when used as sprays, dasts or
fumigants Experiments have been
made to determine the action tn t5a
potassium cyanid and other substance
in the cinrol Of insects and plant
diseases when injected into the us
sues Of plants.