148 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



uble in water, but has the same disadvantages as commercial arsenic. 

 For a number of years an arsenical compound has been advertised un- 

 der the name of '^ Potato-pest poison," by the Lodi Chemical Works of 

 Lodi, N. J. It is put up iu pound packages, which are sold at $1 each, 

 with directions to dissolve 4 ounces in 2 quarts of hot water, then pour 

 into a barrel containing 30 gallons of cold water, and use on the plants 

 in as fine a spray as possible. 



The common arsenic water, which every druggist knows how to make, 

 will answer well. To make it from the white arsenic (arsenious acid) 

 and common baking (carbonate of) soda is cheaper than to buy the 

 arseniate, although the arseniate method of preparation involves less 

 time and labor. One-fifth of a pound of sal soda to a pound of arsenic 

 should be boiled in a gallon of water until dissolved. The solution is 

 permanent, no stirring or shaking being necessary to keep the poison 

 mixed. One quart of the solution to forty gallons of water is used on 

 each acre. 



Fowler^s solution. — This compound is said to consist of arsenious ox- 

 ide, dissolved in a solution of sodium or potassium carbonate in water. 

 It has been used quite extensively in some parts of the canebrake re- 

 gion of Alabama, but does not appear to be patented. 



A more complicated comijound, "Johnson's Dead Shot," has been 

 patented by Judge J. W. Johnson, of Columbus, Tex. (No. 151,666, June 

 2, 1874), consisting of 8 ounces arsenious acid, 1 ounce cyanide of po- 

 tassium, 8 ounces dextrine, dissolved in 40 gallons of water. Jne of 

 the claims for this compound was that the vapor of the cyanide of po- 

 tassium even killed the moths which came in the vicinity of the plants 

 that had been spriukled with the "Dead Shot." Experience has shown 

 that the claim was unwarranted, and in fact, in the packages offered to 

 the public. Judge Johnson did not adhere to the specification, being 

 finally afraid to use the cyanide of potassium, and making a mixture 

 composed of 3 pounds of commercial arsenic, 1 pound of starch, 1 pound 

 of salts of tartar, ground up together. This was made up in powder 

 packages, to be used at the rate of 5 pounds to 500 gallons of water, 

 and sprayed by means of his patent sprinkler presently to be described. 

 This Avas found to have the same drawback, common to arsenical mix- 

 tures, of injuring the plant, and the later packages, advertised under 

 the name of " Johnson's Improved Dead Shot," i)ut up in 4-pound tin 

 boxes, and to be used at the rate of 4 pounds to 500 gallons of water, 

 consist (according to the inventor's own statement to us) of 2 pounds 

 of commercial arsenic with a due proportion of rosin, caustic soda, and 

 sulphate of copper, all boiled together. This is sold at $1.25 per box. 

 It has, however, proved too often unsatisfactory and inefficient, and 

 Mr. Johnson has been obliged to add or recommend the addition of one 

 l)Ound of Paris green to the mixture. 



A patent (No. 151078, May 19, 1874) was obtained by Messrs. J. D. 

 Braham and A. Eobira, of Galveston, Tex., for their "Texas Cotton 



