THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



205: 



green. This comparison showed that 

 one part of Paris green was equivalent 

 to about one hundred parts of Shig 

 Shot. A determination of arsenious 

 acid in the same sample (No. 1 ) which 

 was received two years ago, gave 0.54 

 per cent. 



On Feb. 4, 1886, when the investi- 

 gation had reached this point, two 

 more samples of Slug Shot (Nos. 2 and 

 3) were received from the manufacturer. 

 Externally the packages were the same, 

 except that No. 3 was put up to be 

 sold by Joseph Breck & Sons, Boston, 

 Mass. The general appearance of the 

 substance in both these packages was 

 quite similar to No. 1, although the 

 color was slightly darker and the odor 

 somewhat diflferent; a more careful 

 examination, however, showed that 

 they were different in composition. 

 No. 1 was quite free from organic mat- 

 ter, while both Nos. 2 and 3 contained 

 a considerable quantity of fine organic 

 powder which it would be dijQ&cult to 

 lully identify, but when it is digested 

 in water for some time and gently 

 warmed, the odor is very suggestive of 

 tobacco. This was the same in both 

 No. 2 and No. 3. The organic matter 

 which these samples contained so modi- 

 fied the color produced by ammonia 

 that no definite idea of the amount of 

 Paris green used could be obtained by 

 direct comparison as with No. I ; the 

 color was, however, much deeper, 

 showing that they contained more than 

 that. 



A determination of arsenious acid in 

 No. 2 gave 1.02 per cent., and in No. 

 3, 0.76 per cent. Paris green as ob- 

 tained in the market is not a very con- 

 stant composition, but the above figures 

 indicate that No. 1 contained about 

 one per cent.. No. 2 two per cent., and 

 No. 3 one and one-half per cent. 

 These quantities are larger than neces- 

 Sdiy for an efficient insecticide. Ex- 

 periments at the Station have shown 



that one part of Paris green to 100 or 

 150 parts of land plaster is ample for 

 the destruction of the potato beetle. 



The quantity of arsenic found in 

 these samples is certainly sufficient to 

 demand especial care in its use at all 

 times and to warrant the recommenda- 

 tion of its discontinuance upon cabbage 

 and all other vegetables and fruit 

 where it is possible for a portion of the 

 poison to be retained until it reaches 

 the table. When it is considered that 

 one grain of arsenious acid is a danger- 

 ous dose, and that a tablespoon full of 

 any of the above samples would contain 

 more than this quantity, the necessity 

 for caution in its use will be evident to. 

 all. 



E. Lewis Sturtevant, 



Director. 



SMALL FRUIT NOTES. 



The season has been quite favorable 

 for the strawberry. The Horticultural 

 Exhibition was the best for 50 years. 

 Among strawberries the Belmont car- 

 ried off the Silver Cup, although it had 

 powerful competiters in the Sharpless 

 and Jewell. The Prince (of Berries) 

 took the first prize for a new variety, 

 and the Parry the second, but there 

 was a silver medal also given to the 

 Gold, which is larger, higher-flavored 

 and handsome. It was raised by P. M. 

 Augur & Sons. Among the new varie- 

 ties was the Dorchester, which, although 

 exhibited in a general collection, at- 

 tracted special notice for its size and 

 beauty, and as a very late, handsome 

 kind, the Omega received a fii'st-class 

 certificate of merit. Jewell fully justi- 

 fies the high commendation it has 

 received, and Sharpless is more popular 

 than any other kind. Ellwanger & 

 Barry conferred a great blessing on the 

 world when they introduced it. 



In regard to raspberries, the Carman 

 is the earliest cap variety I possess. It 

 is sweet and veri/ goody a valuable. 



