August, '12] W(.)(iDW( RTH: CALlFijRNIA 1.\>-ECTICIDE INDUSTRIES 361 



There has been much complaint in years past as to the quality of 

 the cyanide and more particularly regarding the acid, doubtless some- 

 times with justice but more often the trouble has not been with the 

 chemicals used. 



Next to the cyanide, the arsenicals take the most prominent place 

 among insecticides. Outside of California the arsenicals easily hold 

 first place. The United States insecticide law set definite standards 

 for Paris Green and lead arsenate and did not mention by name any 

 other insecticides. 



Until within the last five years all the arsenicals used in California 

 came from the East. Now the California Spray Chemical Company 

 manufactures lead arsenate and zinc arsenite and supplies the major 

 part, not only of the California market, but very largely also the North- 

 west. 



The organization of this company came about because of the need 

 of a specially insoluble grade of arsenate of lead, such as none of the 

 Eastern manufacturers would supply, and which they are now only 

 beginning to compete with. In most regions the danger to foliage 

 is not so great as in the Pajaro Valley and therefore does not require 

 this degree of insolubility. 



All of the larger Eastern manufacturers of arsenicals still sell their 

 ^oods in this state, probably in as large ciuantities as they did before 

 the organization of the California Spray Chemical Company, since 

 there has been a very great increase in the consumption of arsenicals 

 following the Codlin Moth investigation conducted by the Uni- 

 versity in the Pajaro Valley. 



Lime sulfur as a spray mixture originated more than a quarter of 

 a century ago in California and was used in this state in large quantity 

 for many years before its use spread to other states. For a long time 

 it was the largest item of Insecticide work in this state and even yet 

 may be more important than the use of the arsenicals. It is very dif- 

 ficult to obtain a reliable estimate of the amount used since it is still 

 very largely a home made preparation. The lime used is all of local 

 manufacture and the sulfur imported, largely from Japan. 



Both of these materials are used quite extensively for other than 

 insecticide purposes and but for this reason it would be very easy to get 

 an estimate of the amount used in making this spray. 



The commercial production of lime sulfur originated not in Cali- 

 fornia but in the East and was introduced into California through the 

 business enterprise of the California Rex Spray Company erecting 

 an extensive factory at Benecia. Subsequently the California Spray 

 Chemical Company began to manufacture this spraying material 



