204 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



adaptability to all soils and climates 

 where grapes can be grown, its patient 

 endurance of neglect, its wonderful fer- 

 tility in ordinary soils, and its habit of 

 giving to the country seedlings of value, 

 justifies and explains the general accept- 

 ance, and foreshadows the time when 

 we shall have, of our own stock, grapes 

 equal to those of Europe." 



SLUG SHOT. 

 In reply to an enquiry as to the 

 character and efficiency of Slug Shot 

 we publish the following bulletin : — 



N. Y. Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 Geneva, N. Y., Mar. 18, 1886. 



Nearly two years ago a sample of 

 Hammond's Slug Shot, an insecticide 

 of some repute, was sent to the Station 

 for examination as to its poisonous 

 properties, the claim having been made 

 that it was perfectly harmless to all 

 animals except insects and consequently 

 <jould be used with impunity on all 

 fruits and vegetables. 



This insecticide is in the form of a 

 fi.ne powder having a pinkish color and 

 an odor resembling coal tar. The color 

 and the odor, together with the strong 

 reactions given in tests for lime and 

 arsenic gave the impression that the 

 substance was a mixture of gas-lime 

 and London purple, and a statement to 

 this effect was made at the time. This 

 was not intended to be a positive 

 statement of its composition, and was 

 made simply because it afforded a 

 plan sable explanation of its appearance 

 and odor, and also suggested a cheap 

 source for the arsenic which it con- 

 tained. It was not considered neces- 

 sary to proceed further with the exami- 

 nation after dangerous quantities of 

 arsenic had been discovered. 



This explanation is rendered neces- 

 sary by the fact that the appearance of 

 the above statement as to the probable 

 composition of the Slug Shot in the 



late report of the Station was followed 

 by an affidavit from the manufacturer 

 to the effect that at no time had either 

 London purple or gas-lime entered into 

 its composition. 



A recent circular issued by the 

 maker reaffirms the statement that 

 '' Slug Shot " is a combination * * 

 not harmful to either man, beast or 

 fowl, but probably the most effective 

 and economical article in use for the 

 destruction of the various insects that 

 prey upon cultivated vegetation." The 

 printed directions upon each package 

 also state that " It contains poison 

 thoroughly diffused through natural 

 and chemical fertilizers and is perfectly 

 safe in its use no matter how bounti- 

 fully applied." This same impression, 

 as to the harmless properties of this 

 insecticide, is conveyed by the affidavit 

 mentioned above. This claim, on ac- 

 count of the strong reaction for arsenic 

 which had been found, was considered 

 misleading and liable to result in seri- 

 ous accidents if not corrected, and a 

 further examination was undertaken 

 for the purpose of determining the 

 quantity and if possible the source of 

 the arsenic. 



A few tests showed that the main 

 portion of the substance was gypsum, 

 and determinations of water, sulphuric 

 acid, and lime were made which fully 

 confirmed this. 



A microscopical examination showed 

 a reddish coloring matter, and numer- 

 ous green particles insoluble in water 

 suggested Paris green as the probable 

 source of the poison. To confirm this 

 opinion a test for copper was made 

 which showed its presence in consider- 

 able quantity. In order to obtain a 

 clue to the quantity of Paris green 

 which the copper represented, the 

 color imparted to a solution of am- 

 monia by a given weight of Slug Shot 

 was compared to that produced in the 

 same strength of ammonia by Paris 



