CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION OF PYRETHRUM. 167 
seed to burst prematurely and rot, where slower absorption in a soil 
only tolerably moist affords tbe best eonditions for germination. 
The seed of both species sown, whether in the fall of 1880 or in the 
spring of 1881, germinated tolerably well, though some was evidently 
worthless when received. A few plants of roseum from that sown in 
the fall of 1880, bloomed the ensuing autumn, while all sown in the 
spring of 1881 bloomed profusely the following summer. 
Both species withstood the wiuters very well, and as these were ex- 
treme winters, the oue very severe and cold, the other open and mild, 
the test may be considered a very thorough one. The older leaves died 
off, as is the custom with many allied perennial species, but the plants 
began growing very early in spring and were, in fact, among the vernal 
adornments of the garden. Ro&CUm began blooming early in May. and 
showed every variation in color from almost pure white to deep crimson. 
It also showed considerable variation in the green of the leaves as well 
as in the form, some plants having the leaves much more finely cat than 
others. CinvnirUvfoiuini which has a much smaller flower, with pore 
white petals, very strongly resembling the common Ox-eye Daisy, began 
blooming a month alter rose inn had passed its prime. It proved uniform 
in color, and is always distinguishable from roseum, even before bloom- 
ing, by the whitish or glaucous green of the leaf, and its much deeper 
and broader incisions. 
A portion of the flower heads were dried and pulverized, the powder 
proving to be fully equal in eflicacy to the imported article; while the 
powder from dried stems and leaves is decidedly weaker, but still useful 
when applied in large quantities/' 1 
Preparation of the plants for use. — In regard to manufactur- 
ing the powder, the flower heads should be gathered during tine weather, 
when they are about to open, or at the time when fertilization takes 
place, as the essential oil that gives the insecticide qualities reaches, at 
this time, its greatest development. When the blossoming has ceased 
the stalks may be cut within about four inches from the ground atid util- 
ized, being ground and mixed with the flowers in the proportion of one- 
third of their weight. Great care must be taken not to expose the flow 
era to moisture, or the rays of the sun, or still less to artificial heat. 
They should be dried under cover and hermetically closed up in sacks 
or other vessels to prevent untimely pulverisation. The finer the flower 
heads are pulverized the more effectually the powder acts and the more 
economical is its use. Proper pulverization in large quantities is best 
done by those who make a business of it and have special mill facilities 
Lehn & Fink, of New York, have furnished us with the most satisfac 
tory powder. For his own use the farmer can pulverize smaller quan- 
tities by the simple method of pounding the flowers in a mortar. It is 
necessary that the mortar be closed, and a piece of leather through 
which the pestle moves, such as is generally used in pulverizing phar- 
maceutic substances in a laboratory, will answer. The quantity to be 
