20 SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 



-of poison and three tablespoonfnls of flour; stirring it well. 1 tried it 

 first without flour, but every shower would wash all the poison off"." 



Another Alabama farmer writes to the Southern Cultivator that 

 be successfully used the powder mixture on fifty acres at a cost of 

 sixty-eight cents per acre. Finally, Mr. D. F. Prout, of Demopolis, 

 Ala., who has, anonymously, lately published a small "Essay on the 

 best mode of using Paris green for the destruction of the Cotton-cat- 

 erpillar," says that the cost of material, per acre, for two applications 

 will not exceed ^1.75, viz.: 40 pounds of flour at 2^ cents per pound, 

 and 2 pounds Paris green at 37^ cents. He found, in his own experi- 

 ence, that an expenditure of .^100 on about 80 acres increased the 

 crop at least 10 bales. 



A machine to facilitate the sprinkling of the mixture on a large 

 scale has jubt been patented (Dec. 16, 1873) by the Hon. J. W. John- 

 son, of Columbus, Texas. It consists of a large tank or reservoir, into 

 which the poison is placed, and from which it is lifted by a double- 

 action force pump into two branches of a pipe on top of the tank, 

 which connects with a horizontal tube running transversely across 

 the rear of the tank. To this tube are connected shorter adjustable 

 nozzles, and the flow of liquid is easily governed by a suitable valve 

 in the pipe. The pump is worked by a lever pivoted to one of the 

 two wheels, which are small and attached to the tank by means of 

 vertical bars, so as to enable the machine to pass over the plants 

 without injury. 



Other devices have been contrived to facilitate sprinkling; and 

 Mr. W. P. Reese informs me that one costing only $10.00 was used 

 ■quite extensively around Selma, Ala. 



The remarks [ante p. 14) as to using the green in liquid or powder 

 need not be repeated. This remedy will, from the different habits of 

 the insect, not prove of any great value against the Boll-worm. Its 

 use should be abandoned, except for extreme reasons, after the bolls 

 open, so as to prevent any injury that might follow the ginning of the 

 poisoned cotton. 



TATENTS ox I'lIE PARIS GREEN MIXTURE. 



Although aware of the fact that sundry patents had been taken 

 out by persons in the more northern States* for Paris green in combi- 



* The Commissioner of Agriculture, in a letter to Prout and Robertson, of Demopolis, Ala , , writes 

 (July 23, 1873:^ " There are three patents already taken out for the use of Paris green, in combination 

 with other ingredients, for the destruction of injurious insects. la 18G8 James P.Wilson, oflUinois, took 

 out a patent (No. 82,408; for one part of Paris greeu and two of mineral paint, to be used to kill potato- 

 bugs. Lemuel Pagin, of Niles, Michigan, (patent No. 112,732J claims a combination of fine flour 

 and middlings with Paris gi-een and resin, to kill ])otato-bugs ; and Green F. Wliisenunt, of Cha])el 

 aiill, Tex;is, (No. 131,959) for destroying (Mterpillars on cotton." 



