Pomona College Journal of rLntomology 



Volume III FEBRUARY 1911 Number 1 



THE USE OF SODIUM CYANIDE 



BY E. O. BSSIG 

 HORTICULTURAL COMMISSIONER OF VENTURA COUNTY 



At the middle of the past fumigation season, the fumigators of the southern 

 part of the state, without any advanced warning, were forced to finish up 

 the season with sodium cyanide. To a great many this meant that they 

 were to begin using a substance with which they were totally ignorant. It 

 came as a last resort to those who had not already fumigated, and its use 

 was forced upon them. Personally, I had had no experience with the 

 sodium cyanide, and did not know what serious mistakes might result from 

 its use. It also meant that a new equipment was necessary for measuring 

 the acid and water and that new charts must be printed for fumigators of 

 the county. At once there was a clamor among the smaller fumigators for 

 information concerning the use of the new material. They had no charts 

 and no way of making new ones. The graduates for measuring the acid and 

 water could not be had. In the face of these conditions the fumigators of 

 Ventura County got together and began to find out for themselves the 

 value of sodium cyanide and the best means of using it. Those who led in 

 the work were : Mr. C. E. McFadden, from Fullerton, who had two large 

 fumigation outfits working in this county, The Limoneira Company, and The 

 County Fumigation outfit. Charts were printed, after the recommenrled 

 dosage had been thoroughly tested. Graduates were made by etching ordinary 

 glass pitchers and the work was delayed only temporarily. In all. more 

 than 20 tons of the sodium cyanide was used with excellent results. Our 

 experience was such as to give us perfect confidence in the use of this ma- 

 terial for another year and by some it is preferred to the potassium cyanide. 



Believing that others may be interested in what we found out, our com- 

 bined resultant observations and experiences are briefly stated in this article. 



KIND of CYANIDE USED 



The only available cyanide, at the time, was what is known as the 133 per 

 cent sodium cyanide, manufactured by the Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical 

 Co., for sale by the Braun Corporation. I first obtained 400 pounds for 

 trial purposes, and observing no marked differences in it from what we were 

 accustomed to, later ordered large amounts. 



