36 MISC. PUB. 52 6, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



TARTAR EMETIC 



Tartar emetic is known chemically as potassium antimonyl tartrate 

 (K(SbO)C 4 H i 6 .y 2 H 2 0). It is manufactured by combining anti- 

 mony oxide with tartaric acid, the latter being obtained from a by- 

 product of the wine industry. As marketed for insecticidal purposes 

 (technical grade) it is a white powder which is soluble in water. 



One of the insecticidal uses of this material is in ant poisons. Its 

 most extensive use is in a spray for the control of the citrus thrips, 

 the gladiolus thrips, and common red spiders. It has also been used 

 against the onion thrips. 



A spray solution for control of the gladiolus thrips on gladiolus, 

 the flower thrips on roses, the orchid thrips on orchids, the chrysan- 

 themum thrips, the banded greenhouse thrips, and the onion thrips on 

 various ornamentals is made up as follows : 



For small For large 



quantities quantities 



Tartar emetic 2 teaspoonfuls. 2 pounds. 



Brown sugar 2y 3 tablespoonfuls. 4 pounds. 



Water 1 gallon. 100 gallons. 



Dissolve each in a small quantity of water, then dilute to the quantity 

 desired. Dissolving the tartar emetic may be hastened by using hot 

 water. After this spray solution has been made up, no agitation is 

 required to maintain a uniform spray. 



Apply this spray as a fine mist to infested foliage of gladiolus or 

 other plants or to flowers of roses or other plants when infested. The 

 spray should cover the plant parts as tiny droplets. Do not apply so 

 much spray that these droplets will unite and run off. Applications 

 are made weekly, and if rain falls within 24 hours after the spray has 

 been applied the treatment is repeated. 



Caution. — Tartar emetic is very poisonous and must be stored 

 away from food products in plainly marked containers. To date 

 a warning color, such as is used in arsenicals and some fluorides, 

 has not been added to tartar emetic. 



THIOCYANATES (ORGANIC) 



Of a large number of similar compounds, at least three thiocyanates, 

 synthetic products made in the United States, are used as plant sprays. 

 They are sold in liquid form; one is chemically beta-beta'-butoxythio- 

 cyanodiethyl ether, another is lauryl thiocyanate, a third is a mixture 

 of fenchyl and bornyl thiocyanoacetates. They are chiefly substitutes 

 for pyjethrum sprays and other contact insecticides for use against 

 red spiders on certain plants, especially under glass, and also against 

 the cylamen mite, mealybugs, aphids, scale insects, and thrips. Since 

 thiocyanate sprays injure some plants, they should be used only as 

 recommended by the maker. 



Caution. — These compounds are generally considered harmless 

 to man, although some of them are capable of causing dermatitis 

 to humans. Since the hazards are not fully understood, care 

 should be exercised in handling these materials. 



