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MOSQUITO  POWDER. 
Dalmatian  or  Persian  insect  powder,  familiarly  known  locally 
as-  ‘Mosquito  powder,’  is  the  dried  and  pulverized  flower  buds  of 
a species  of  chrysanthemum.  Its  botanical  name  gives  it  the 
name  Tyrethrum  powder,’  by  which  it  is  generally  known  in 
Europe.  It  occurs  wild  in  Dalmatia  and  is  cultivated  extensively 
in  many  parts  of  Southern  Europe  and  also  in  Asia  Minor. 
Induced  by  the  high  price  of  Dalmatian  insect  powder  the  culti- 
vation of  the  flowers  was  introduced  into  California  upon  a large 
scale  some  years  ago  and  the  price  soon  fell  from  about  one  dol- 
lar to  eight  cents  per  pound.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  effi- 
cacy of  the  powder  from,  California  grown  plants  was  distinctly 
below  that  of  European  origin  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  de- 
mand for  the  latter  reinstated  it  in  the  market  and  the  value  of 
the  American  product  diminished. 
The  flower  heads  are  sold  by  the  growers  to  dealers,  who  dry 
them  and  sell  them  in  Venice  and  Berlin  where  they 
are  pulverized.  It  is  said  that  the  powder  destined  for  the  States 
is  pulverized  in  London  for  an  American  firm  whose  agent  has  for 
some  years  endeavored  to  secure  the  whole  Montenegrin  output. 
In  consequence  of  this  the  price  has  of  late  nearly  doubled,  the 
powder  now  being  quoted  at  about  fifty  cents  per  pound. 
The  idea  of  producing  mosquito  powder  locally  is  one  which 
should  be  put  in  operation.  The  very  large  quantities  which  are 
burnt  in  the  islands  insure  a ready  sale  for  our  crop  if  the  potency 
of  the  flowers  is  not  impaired  by  their  introduction  here.  Al- 
though wishing  the  proposed  industry  every  success,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  as  time  goes  on  those  who  engage  in  it  will  have  to 
seek  other  markets  for  the  disposal  of  their  product  than  our  own, 
in  consequence  of  a gradual  diminution  of  the  mosquito  nuisance. 
However,  the  eradication  of  these  pests  is  not  so  near  as  to  dis- 
courage the  making  of  experimental  plantings  to  determine  the 
value  of  Hawaiian  insect  powder.  Even  when  the  day  arrives 
that  no  altars  are  lighted  in  our  midst  to  the  mosquito,  there  will 
be  still  markets  farther  afield  which  will  be  open  to  the  disposal 
of  an  efficacious  powder. 
CRYSTALLIZED  BANANA. 
A delicious  sweetmeat  is  prepared  from  bananas  in  San  Do- 
mingo in  the  following  way : Large,  thoroughly  ripe  bananas  are 
skinned,  and  the  fruit  is  cut  into  thin  slices  about  one-quarter 
inch  in  thickness.  These  pieces  are  sprinkled  with  fine  or  pow- 
dered sugar,  and  placed  in  the  sun  on  boards  or  trays.  As  the 
fruit  dries,  it  is  turned  over  several  times,  and  each  time  dusted 
with  sugar.  In  a few  days  it  is  sufficiently  dry,  and  forms  a 
crystallized  conserve  of  delightful  taste. — U.  S.  Consular  Report. 
