iio Thk Canadian Horiicui.turi.st. 



the stigiim tlmii tc» l)e ahsorbed, uml furtlier than this, even in the natural operation of 

 fertilization, tlie stigma is a passive niemher and absorbs nothing. I'he acti\ity is on the 

 part of the pollen which pushes out its fovilla bearing pollen tubes and protrudes tin in 

 through the tissues of the stigma down the style into the ovary. In corresponding on this 

 matter, I'rofessor I'orbes says: 'Of course you will have no trouble in proving l)y the 

 highest authority that tliere is no possibility of the poisons being absorbi-d by the planti,' 

 wliich statement, with the following from I'rofessor A. J. Cook, should, 1 think, sit this 

 contention at rest : ' 1 experimented twice, extensively, to lind out the truth ; first in ISsO, 

 when I had fifty apples, which were very thoroughly sprayed. Poison was carefully thrown 

 over each fruit, with one pound of pure Paris green to lifty gallons of water - four times as 

 strong as necessary — in May. ("heinical analysis in August found not a trace of poison. 

 Another lot of fifty was analysed with the same result.' 



In short, all analyses have shown that practically there is no danger whatever 

 in s]jraying fruit trees if ordinary common sense precautions are taken. 



In conclusion, let me add the following extract taken from the Boston Tran- 

 script of Jan. I, 1892, which is a report of a lecture deli\ered l)y I'rof. C. \'. 

 Riley, the United States Entomologist, and undoubtedly the most eminent 

 economic entomologist living : 



"The conclusion of the lecture was particidariy appropriate and rc-assuiing, as it dealt 

 with the possibility of danger in the use of arsenical poisons, and the lecturer showed how 

 perfectly safe and incapable of harm they are if used intelligently and in accordance with 

 the recommendations of those who had large experience in their use. He referred to the 

 scare of last autumn in reference to grapes that were supposed to have been poisoned by 

 spraying, and exposed for sale in New York City, and stated that the alarm, as the 

 Department of Agriculture showed, was entirely unjustified. ' In no instance," said I'tof. 

 Kiley, ' is there an authentic case of poisoning through the use of plants or fruits that have 

 been treated, and I wish to emphasize this fact, because almost every year there are state- 

 ments in the press that are well calculate<l to alarm and engender tht- belief that we are in 

 danger of wholesale |)oisoning by the increasing use of these arsenites." The latest sensa- 

 tional report of this kind was the rumor, emanating from London, w ithin the last week, 

 that American ap])les were being rejected for fear that their use was unsafe. If we con- 

 sider for a moment how minute is the (juantity of arsenic that can, under the most favor- 

 able circumstances, remain in the cilyx of an apple, we shall see at once how absurd this 

 fear is ; for even if the poi.son that originally killed the worm remained intact, one would 

 have to eat many barrels of apples at a meal to get a sufficient (luantity to poison a human 

 being. Moreover, much of the poison is washeil oil by rain, and some of it thrown otV by 

 natural growth of the apple, so that there is, as a rule, nothing left of the poison in the 

 garnered fruit. .\ild to this the further fact that few people eat apples raw without cast- 

 ing away the calyx and stem ends, the only parts where any poison coidd, under the must 

 favorable circumstances, lemain, and that these parts are always cut away in cooking, and 

 we see how utterly groundless are any fears of injury and how useless any prohibitive 

 measures against .\merican apples on this score." 



JAMr.S l-'l.I, llUKR. 



Dominion lintoniologist. Otttuva. 



Thk Sai ri'KTRK Remedy. — Dissolve one tablespoonful of salti)etre in a pail 

 of water. A pint poured around each hill of cucumbers or s(|uashes is verv 

 good for the plants and very bad for the bugs, both striped and black, which 

 burrow at night in the earth about the plants. ( "ut worms are also said to dis- 

 solve like earth treated with salt[)etre. This is a remedy which would certainly be 

 very useful to the |)lant.s, and if, as is claimed, it destroys or keeps away insect 

 marauders it will prove most valuable. This salti)ctre solution is useful ii» an\ 

 plant v/hich is attacked by insects which at any time burrow in the grouiul. It 

 does not appear to l)e wholly certain, however, that it is as efficacious an insecti 

 ( ide as could be wished. IVof. ]]'. W. CooKr. 



