596 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



numerous remedies offered for insects and diseases of secondary 

 importance or those which are less widespread. 



The campaign inaugurated in 1919 and continued during 1920 and 

 1921, involving the inspection of the calcium arsenate used for cotton- 

 boll weevil control, was continued during the fiscal year 1922. Since 

 the composition of this article steadily grew more constant and 

 satisfactory each year it was manufactured, it was hoped that during 

 the fiscal year 1922 the inspection work on calcium arsenate could 

 be greatly reduced or nearly abandoned. Unfortunately, however, 

 preliminary inspection work showed that in a considerable number 

 of large shipments of calcium arsenate there were present a few 

 containers that showed goods of very poor quality, especially goods 

 that contained an excessive amount of water-soluble arsenic oxide 

 and that would therefore prove very injurious to cotton. This situ- 

 ation required the board to devote more attention to the inspection of 

 calcium arsenate than had been contemplated. 



One of the chemists of the board developed a simple method of 

 test that could be used by the inspectors to show the presence of an 

 excessive quantity of water-soluble arsenic oxide. This test, while 

 not infallible, resulted in a saving of chemical work and permitted 

 the inspection of many more packages than would have been possible 

 otherwise. It is evident that the inspection of calcium arsenate 

 will have to be continued in a fairly comprehensive way for several 

 more years. 



The campaign designed to improve the quality and labeling of 

 Bordeaux mixture and Bordeaux-lead arsenate was continued during 

 the fiscal year 1922, and the labels for most of these preparations 

 were brought into entire conformity with law. Since it was found 

 that Bordeaux mixture was not effective when used as a dust, manu- 

 facturers were required to remove the dusting directions from the 

 labels of these products, which, in most cases, was promptly done. 

 Manufacturers were required also to recommend a sufficient dosage 

 to assure effective control of the diseases controllable by Bordeaux. 

 Most of the manufacturers of Bordeaux-lead arsenate, who previously 

 made a product in which the relative proportions of copper and lead 

 arsenate were incorrect, changed their formulas so as to properly 

 balance these constituents. Some few prefer to continue manufactur- 

 ing under faulty formula, but give directions on the label for adding 

 enough Bordeaux mixture to secure effective fungicidal control and 

 yet not have an excess of lead arsenate. As a whole, therefore, the 

 labels for Bordeaux and Bordeaux-lead arsenate have been greatly 

 improved, although still further work along this line is necessary. 



During the fiscal year especial attention was given to some new or 

 hitherto uninspected insecticides and fungicides, particularly pro- 

 prietary insecticides intended to control the cotton-boll weevil, and 

 combined insecticides and fungicides which were alleged to control 

 many insects and plant diseases, either by inoculation into the tree 

 or by being absorbed by the roots or seeds of the plant. 



During the fiscal year 1921 an organized campaign, by seizure and 

 I3rosecution, was begun against so-called pine-oil disinfectants and 

 so-called coal-tar dips and disinfectants, which, however, were adul- 

 terated with mineral oil. This campaign was continued during the 

 fiscal year 1922, with the result that most of the principal offenders 



