The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-05-08
Cactus Solution
in Making Sprays

this the idea that cactus solution
would make arsenical sprays for kill
Ing insects adhere to plants and thus
protect the plants against insect raw
ages for a longer period AS the re-
suit Of series Of experiments with
the ordinary ''prickly pear or (Opun-
tia lindheimeri) Engelm, which is
plentiful in the Southwest, 1t has been
found that II sliced prickly pears, or
indeed any other cactus of sufficient
size, are added to the water before the
zinc arsenite or Paris green and the
lime are put in, the mixture will stick
to the plants much better and be ef-
fective for much longer period. The
experiments were made with the GU
cumber and similar plants which are
attacked by the belted cucumber
beetle (Diabrostica balteata) and 1t
was found that in regions where
prickly pears are obtainable the
method Is excellent to prevent damage
by insects with habits similar to those
Of the belted cucumber beetle. such as
the twelve-spotted cucumber beetle,
etc.
The method used was as follows:
The spines were first burned from
the prickly pears then sliced at right
angles to the spine or in cases Of large
pears, cut both ways. The sliced cac-
tus was then put In water and allowed
to soak over night. 1t was found that
10 pounds Of spiny cactus to so gallons
of water is about the proper proper.
ton. Where too much cactus is used
1t interferes with the spray The
water over night draws out the mucil-
aginous substance from the cactus
which makes the adhesive for the pois-
onous substances. Cactus grown on
low, wet soil possesses less of this
mucilaginous sustance and more
water than cactus growing in high dry
regions. The latter is. therefore, pre-
ferable.
Another test was made with cactus
solution as compared with whale-oil
soap. Very careful notes were made
and 1t was found that the soap equalled
the cactus In spreading power but the
cactus spray adhered better than the
soap spray. Therefore the cactus was
favored, since heavy dews will wash
poison with slight adhesive qualities
from the foliage in a short time.
The water from the cactus was
drawn off, and with 1t In one set of
experiments, were mixed 3 pounds of
zinc arsenite with so gallons of water.
This was useG in sprays on sugar beet
plants infested with the striped Gu.
cumber beetle. Check experiments
showed that in aout six days after
spraying all the beetles were dead.
In another experiment one-half
pound of Paris green and two pounds
of lime were used with so gallons of
the water of the cactus solution. Again
the spray, within a few days. killed
all the beetles.
Experiments were then made with
lead ar.cnatc and this, 1t was found.
did not make satisfactory combina.
ton with the cactus solution as 1t pro-
duced precipitation and coagulation,
experimenters checked up their re.
suits by using solutions without cactus
and using pastes or other forms of ar
senicals Following are their conclu-
sions:
By the use OF cactus as an adhesive
not only do the arsenicals give better
and more lasting results, but consider
able expense may be saved in another
way. In the Southwest, where all In
secticide material must be shipped in
from a great distance, the expense OF
transporting this material Is often
more than the cost of the insecticide
itself, so that material of poor quail
ity Is often used instead. Fer some
years arsenicals in the paste form have
been extensively used by fruit and
truck growers on account of their bet
ter adherence and lasting qualities, but
where good adhesive is used the
writer much prefers arsenicals in the
powder form. In conducting expert
ments in the insectary and In the field
at no time have the powdered arseni-
Gals proved less effective and at times
the mortality would be considerably
above that shown in another expert
ment conducted at the same time with
arsenicals in the paste form. Better
results have been obtained in using
pound of zinc arsenite in powder form
with cactus, than by the use OF 8
pounds In the paste form to the same
amount of water. Thus equal results
may be obtained with reduction of
&C per cent in express and freight
charges, paid in securing arsenicals
from a distance.
Zilc arsenits has been used both In
tbs paste and powder forms with much
success for the belted cucumber beetle,
as well as for some other insects of
this class. 1t has proved to be one OF
TIE most effective sprays for use N
humid climates, as 1t appears to last
longer. No other arsenical has given
better results and in the majority of
cases the mortality has been higher
than with any other arsenical spray.
The powder when used with cactus to
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