A New Composition for Destroying Weeds, Scrub, and other Vegetable Growths, and for Destroying Insects, and Preserving Timber from their Attacks.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Composition for Destroying Weeds, Scrub, and other Vegetable
Growths, and for Destroying Insects, and Preserving Timber from
their Attacks.
We, CHARLES TAYLOR, RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON and GEORGE SHARPE all of
No. 30 King Street, Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria, Importers, do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has been designed for the purpose of providing an effective means of
destroying weeds scrub and other vegetable growths and for destroying insects and.
preserving timber from their attacks. It consists of a new composition for this purpose
which we call "The Scrub and Insect Exterminator." This composition is prepared in
the following manner viz. :-To three ounces of ordinary white arsenic we add one ounce
of sulphate of copper, one ounce of caustic soda, half an ounce of salt petre, half an
ounce of sulphur and half an ounce sal-ammoniac which we grind together into a
powder and thoroughly intermix them. This is our new composition although the
precise proportions of the several ingredients may be altered or varied, nevertheless we
believe the proportions we have stated to be the best. The absolutely essential
ingredients are the arsenic, the caustic soda, the salt petre, and the sal-ammoniac.
The sulphate of copper assists these, but is not indispensable.
The caustic soda we use as a dissolvent and the salt petre and sulphur as vehicles,
these therefore may be substituted by others of an equivalent character although we
know of no others that would answer the purpose.
In using our solution it is necessary that it should be dissolved in water thus:-For
destroying Eucalyptus Scrub, Ferns of all kinds, Briars, Furze, Californian Thistle &c.,
and for destroying white ants and other insects and for preserving timber from their
attacks, we take ten pounds of the material and add to it ten gallons of water which
we then boil slowly for twenty minutes stirring it occasionally and then add twenty
gallons of cold water to make the quantity thirty gallons. For destroying Cape weed
Sorrel Barr &c. we make a solution of one half the above strength i.e. ten pounds of
the material to sixty gallons of water. It is better to keep stirring whilst boiling and
also to stir frequently while using so as to secure a uniform strength by which means
the most satisfactory result is obtained.

page_text: When the solution is thus prepared it should be thoroughly sprinkled over the scrub
or weeds by means of a suitable utensil such as a common garden watering pot or a
tank on wheels.
When the Ferns or Briars are large the better way is to cut them down, and
sprinkle the mixture over the newly cut stems, or to allow them to grow again to the
height of about six inches and then to apply the mixture. This latter way is very
effectual.
For Eucalyptus Scrub it is better to cut them down close to the ground and sprinkle
the liquid over the newly cut stems.
For destroying white ants and other insects in timber and for preserving timber
from their attacks we either paint, dip, or spray the timber with the liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The new composition herein described for destroying weeds, scrub, and other
vegetable growths and for destroying insects and preserving timber from their attacks
consisting mainly in the combination of ordinary white arsenic, caustic soda, sal-
ammoniac and salt-petre substantially as herein described and explained.
Dated this Second day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.