No. 5.1 Paris-green as an Insecticide for rlesfroying Caterpillars. 139 



small) packasjes bj' tlie senders, or, what is better still, have it in form mentioned 

 opi)Osite as "Paris-green paste," that is, the powder just damped so that it cannot fly 

 about. If swallowed in any quantity by being drawn in with the breath it would cer- 

 tainly be harmful. An Instance is on record in which a man employed to weigh out 

 and wrap 5 cwt. in 1-lb. papers lost his life therefrom. But, with the most ordinarv 

 care, the application may be mixed and used, as well as hellebore and other poisons 

 often applied in orchard and other farming work, with perfect safety. 



" In mixing and in the vse of Paris-green as a fluid dressing or spray, one of 

 the first points to be borne in mind is that this chemical does not dissolve in water. 

 It is simply held in suspension ; the following is a good recipe for mixing, so as to 

 ensure the powder and water being thoroughly mixed to start with : ' Two bucketsful 

 of water are first poured into the can, theu three tablespoonsful of good green, well 

 mixed with another halfbucketful of water and strained through a funnel-shaped 

 strainer .... the use of which prevents the larger particles of the green from 

 getting into the can and clogging up the sprinkler.' 



" The exact method of mixing, however, is quite immaterial — only rememberino- 

 that the powder should be thoroughly diffused through the water, not allowed to be 

 in lumps; and also the methods are best which allow of the operator mixing without 

 handling or inhaling the powder. 



"For tiie above reasons, and also for convenience in mixing, the ' paste ' form 

 before-mentioned is preferable to the powder. 



'■'Mixture of flour with Paris-green.— The addition of flour to the mixture of 

 Paris-green has been found to answer here, and has been strongly advised in the 

 United States, because of the greater adhesiveness thus given, and also because the 

 difference of colour helps to show the amount that has been distributed on the leaves. 

 'Two or three pounds of flour' is au amount named as useful to add to a mixture of 

 Paris-green in 40 gallons of water, but the precise quantity does not appear to be 

 very important. 



"Where the plan is adopted of mixing flour with the Paris-green, the following- 

 method has been advised: — To take a large galvanised iron funnel of capacity suited 

 to the work ; for filling a 40-gallon barrel a funnel of 13 quart capacity is noted* 

 This funnel has inside it a kind of strainer (described as a 'cross-septum ') formed of 

 fine wire gauze, such as is used for sieves, and this also has vertical sides and a rim to 

 keep it from rocking on the barrel. The quantity wished of cheap flour is placed in 

 the funnel, and washed through the sieve-like wire gauze by water poured in ; thus, 

 the flour is finely divided and diffused in the water and the Paris-green subsequentlv 

 added and washed down in the same way by addition of the rest of the water until 

 the barrel is full. 



" In application of Paris-green sprayings, it must alioays he home in mind 

 that, lohatever kind of engine or spraying machine is used, the mixture must be 

 kept an even strength throughout, and no sediment allowed to form at the bottom' 

 or damage to leafage is sure to happen. 



"On these points Mr. Fletcher, the Dominion Entomologist of Canada, wrote to 

 me as follows, and also enforcing care as to over-application : — 



'" Paris-green. — You are quite safe in recommending this; but insist upon these 

 two things, viz., first, to keep the mixture (which is a mixture, not a solution) well 

 stirred all the time, and have the barrel well washed out after it has been filled ten 

 or twelve times. The Paris-green is very heavy, and will keep sinking to the bottom 

 unless constantly agitated ; and as the barrel is frequently re-fiUed the residue will 

 keep accumulating, until it will be too strong as the mixture reaches the bottom. 



