210 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



takes both sides of it, and, wherever the green is, it will 

 kill them the same as it does the potato-worm. You may 

 say that it will not do to put Paris-green upon the currant 

 or the gooseberry, because we are going to eat the fruit. 

 I would not use it upon currants or gooseberries, except for 

 the first crop of worms, which generally comes before the 

 fruit haa formed, or when it is very small ; and ordinarily it 

 •will all be washed off the smooth skin of the berry before 

 an)' of the fruit is eatable : or, if you should chance to eat 

 any of it, the quantity would be so infinitesimal, in the way 

 I advise its application, that no harm would be likely to 

 arise in consequence. I should have no fear in applying it 

 to the currant or the gooseberry early in the season, before 

 the fruit has grown ; but, after that, I should use something 

 else. 



I have one suggestion to make : I do not know that there 

 is any thing in it, I only throw it out as a suggestion. It has 

 .come to my knowledge this year, that in four distinct cases, 

 — in one of which there was a field of four acres, in two others 

 .a field of two acres, and in a fourth a field of one acre, — 

 one-half of each field was treated with Paris-green. I do 

 not know how it was spread, or how heavy the coat was : but 

 one half of each field was treated with the green ; the other 

 half in three cases was protected by hand-jjicking, and in 

 the fourth case the field was taken care of by Guinea-hens, 

 which was a perfect protection. In all these four cases the 

 crop, in round numbers (by estimate : it was not weighed), 

 was double, on the part where it was hand-picked and treated 

 w ith Guinea-hens, what it was on the part treated with Paris- 

 green. I do not think the Paris-green hurt the crop : I 

 simply call it to your attention as a point to be looked after 

 in the future. I do not believe it is possible for an insoluble 

 powder like Paris-green to have any detrimental influence 

 on the growth of the potato. 



I may say here, that if any of you see fit to ask any ques- 

 tions while a subject is up, or afterwards either, it will not 

 trouble me at all. If I attempt to answer any question, it 

 will be because I know something about it ; and, if I do not 

 have the knowledge, I shall not hesitate to say so. I believe 

 Paris-green has been tried in Michigan at the rate of nine hun- 

 dred pounds to the acre, without any detriment to the crop. 



