SPRAYING MATERIALS. I7I 



Mr. Benjamin : It is generally supposed that a hog is immune 

 to poison. 



Mr. Prosser : Should we not have a law requiring a rigid in- 

 spection of Paris green that is sold in our markets? I think now 

 is the time for this society to push such a law. 



Prof. Snyder : It probably would be very helpful, but that is 

 something that the people would be better able to recommend than I. 

 There is undoubtedly a large amount of poor arsenic on the market, 

 and with an inspection there would undoubtedly be an improvement 

 in the condition of spraying chemicals, if we could get such a law. 

 Other states have such a law and have profited by it. 



Mr. Prosser : When I buy a pound of Paris green I have no 

 way of telling whether it is pure or whether it is impure. We 

 have nothing in our general market to show an analysis of it. 

 Some of it is not fit to use at all. 



Prof. Washburn : There are several ways by which a test of the 

 purity of Paris green may be made. One is by putting a little on 

 a piece of glass, then tipping it up and tapping the glass. If it 

 leaves a white streak on the glass it is bad, it is adulterated in 

 some way. Another way is to take a little ammonia in a glass and 

 drop in a little Paris green. If the ammonia turns a deep blue and 

 there is nothing left in the bottom, the Paris green is all right — 

 barring possibly an excess of arsenic, which is soluble in ammonia — 

 but if there is a sediment left it is adulterated. You do not want 

 more than a quarter of a teaspoonful in a wine glass of ammonia. 

 This is a negative test. These are the only two tests that are in the 

 hands of the farmer. If you have a microscope you can tell im- 

 mediately. Paris green seen through a microscope will show the 

 oval shape of the grains, clean cut, but if there are white particles 

 in it, it is adulterated. 



The Box and Barrel. — There has been a great deal of dis- 

 cussion of late as to the relative merits of the box and barrel for 

 apples. For storage purpose there is little difference, as fruit keeps 

 about as well in one package as the other. For commercial use 

 in the open market, each has some special claim of merit. The box 

 is a more convenient package to handle, and since it cannot be 

 rolled and tumbled about like the barrel package, it affords greater 

 protection to the fruit. It is also of much more convenient size 

 for the average city consumer who wishes to purchase an unbroken 

 package. ! 



