146 ENEMIES AND DISEASES OF POULTRY 



Powder Insecticides. To be suitable for killing the 

 parasites of poultry that can be destroyed by powders, 

 a powder must be very fine at least as fine as ordinary 

 road dust perfectly dry, and not possess any adhesive 

 qualities. Many kinds of powders are used for destroy- 

 ing the parasites of poultry. They consist of substances 

 that range from the most deadly poisons to the most 

 harmless materials, and from ill-smelling powders to 

 those that have no odor. No advantage is gained by 

 using either poisonous or offensive smelling powders 

 to kill the parasites of poultry, and they are dangerous 

 both to the poultry and the person applying them. 



Some of the many kinds of insect powders are men- 

 tioned and briefly described here because one or more of 

 them can be found in any locality. The powders 

 described do not include those that are specially pre- 

 pared and sold in packages under a trade name. Any 

 of the following powders may safely be used for dusting 

 on poultry of all kinds. 



Aniseed powder is made from the seed of the anise 

 plant, which grows in many parts of Europe. This 

 powder is suitable for use about young chicks, poults, 

 ducklings, and goslings. 



Pyrcthrum powder is also commonly known as Persian 

 or Dalmatian insect powder and as Buhach. It is usually 

 sold by the pound in drug stores. This powder is com- 

 monly made from the dry flowers of certain species of 

 chrysanthemums which are grown in Persia, Dalmatia, 

 and neighboring lands, and in California. When pure, 

 this powder is one of the very best powders that can be 

 used for dusting into the plumage of fowls, both old 

 and young. 



Fine tobacco dust, which is a refuse from tobacco facto- 

 ries, is an effective insecticide. It is suitable for 

 dusting into nests, and will destroy body lice. Tobacco 

 dust has the disadvantage that it will stick to the skin 

 of the fowls. It also has a disagreeable odor, which 

 is intensified by the heat and moisture of the bodies 

 of the birds. 



