6 BULLETIN 824, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



botanical station of Rouiba, Algeria, in 1903. From 500 to 900 kilo- 

 grams (1,100 to 1,980 pounds) of dry flowers per hectare (2.47 acres) 

 are obtained, depending upon the soil and the variety of Pyrethrum. 



PyretJirum cinerarisefolium has been grown successfully in Gipps- 

 land, the southeastern district of Victoria, Australia, by Paul Klee- 

 sattel (17). The seeds were obtained from Zara, Dalmatia, and the 

 plants are of the true Dalmatian type. Some powder prepared 

 from the flowers of these plants is said to have killing properties de- 

 cidedly above the average. The cultivation of Pyrethrum in Victoria 

 is described in a Melbourne agricultural paper (154). Hellier (126) 

 sowed some seed of the Pyrethrum Willemotii in 1872 at Grahams 

 Town, Cape Colony, and also distributed packets of the seed. It 

 grew weU, and its insect-destroying power was "something extraor- 

 dinary." In 1883 HeUier distributed more seed, and in 1890 he 

 reported that there were good specimens of plants at Waterford, in 

 various places in Kaffraria, and near Bang Williams Town. 



MacOwan (184), of the Cape Town Botanic Garden, points out 

 that Pyrethrum cinerarisefolium thrives best on an open, dry soil, 

 not too clayey, as both the seed and the plant are easily killed by 

 excessive "moisture. The seed, which is sown about half an inch be- 

 low the surface, germinates in approximately 30 days. As soon as 

 the plants can be handled they are placed 6 inches apart, and three 

 months later, 1 foot apart. The flowers are produced in the second 

 year. In the same article it is stated that the plant appears to 

 stand the winter in sandy loam in the south of England, but has not 

 been observed to flower freely. 



In Japan the Pyrethrum cinerarisefolium has been grown for some 

 time, and the manufacture of insect powder is a weU-established 

 industry. The following information as to its cultivation there was 

 furnished by George N. West, American consul at Kobe, under date 

 of March 22, 1915: 



The species of Pyrethrum cultivated in Japan for the manufacture of insect powder 

 is Chrysanthermim cinerarisefolium (white flower, commonly called "Dalmatia"). 

 The Chrysanthemum roseum (red flower, commonly called "Persia") is also cultivated 

 to a small extent, not only for the same purpose, but for the beauty of its charming 

 flowers. 



None of the species of Pyrethrum are natives of Japan, but have been introduced from 

 foreign countries. As to theii" introduction, it is hard to say exactly, but the following 

 are some of the most reliable traditions: 



1. Diu"ing the year 1881, insect powder was first imported by one Tasaburo Shimidzu 

 of Osaka from Bays (?) & Co., of England, through Morff & Co. of Kobe. 



2. Between the years 1884 and 1885 the seeds were imported from Dalmatia and 

 cultivated by Ei-ichiro Murakami of Yasudamura, Arita County, Wakayama Pre- 

 fecture. 



3. When Georg Hicotmst (?) was a consul for Austria in Japan, he at one time 

 visited Nikko with a view of admiring the natural beauty of the place. It was autumn 

 and the chrysanthemum flowers were blooming profusely along the sides of the road. 

 He thought they looked like the chrysanthemum of his native country which was 



