CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



53 



extra wide mouth, and is shallow so that the insects 

 can be picked out of it easily. Into this place a piece 

 of cyanide of potassium about as big as the thumb. 

 Cover this with plaster of paris, add enough water to 

 harden it, and leave the cover off for about an hour 

 to dry; after this, keep the cover on tight to retain 

 the poisonous gas. This material is very poisonous 

 and should not be played with. The jar should be 

 carefully marked in large letters POISON, and with 

 the usual skull and cross-bones label. 



Spreading board. After the insect is dead, but 

 while it is still soft and moist, it should be pinned to 

 the spreading board in whatever position you wish it 

 to remain when mounted, and left in this position 

 until it is thoroughly dry. It is fastened to the board 

 with pins and small 

 strips of heavy paper 

 or thin cardboard. 

 Ordinary pins can be 

 used but regular in- 

 sect pins are more 

 satisfactory. They 

 can be purchased in 

 several sizes. They 

 are longer and thin- 

 ner than ordinary 

 pins. 



The spreading board should be made of soft, white 

 pine, planed smooth, half an inch thick, two or three 

 inches wide and a foot long. The slot at one end is 



CORK. STRIP 



Parsons' Insect Spreader with 

 universal slot 



