1912. 
'THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
646 
Ruralisms 
POISONS OF WOOD AND FIELD. 
The Hemlocks. —Most of us are 
familiar with the poison ivy, that lies 
in wait for the unwary along fences 
and neglected roadsides, while unaware 
of other more dangerous plants that 
are as freely disseminated. We often 
read, in articles on “popular” science, of 
the deadly woorali or curare, of Hum¬ 
boldt s "dumb cane,” which appears to 
paralyze tongue and throat, or of the 
obeah poisons that have traveled from 
Africa to the West Indies, but we for¬ 
get that the poisoned cup given by the 
Athenians to Socrates smiles at us 
along rural roadsides, side by side with 
an American cousin that masks its true 
character under a beguiling likeness to 
innocent sweet cicely. All through the 
Atlantic States we can find these two 
dangerous relatives of the wholesome 
parsley, the water hemlock, Cicuta ma- 
culata, and the poison hemlock, Conium 
maculatum. Both possess a variety of 
aliases; the former is known as spotted 
parsley, snakeweed, beaver poison, mus¬ 
quash root, muskrat weed, spotted cow- 
bane, children’s bane, and death-of- 
man. It may be described as a smooth, 
erect perennial, three to eight feet high, 
with a rigid hollow stem, finely-cut 
leaves, an umbel of small white flow¬ 
ers (somewhat suggestive of wild car¬ 
rot or Queen Anne's lace), and a clus¬ 
ter of spindle-shaped roots two to three 
inches long. It is not poisonous to 
touch, hence does not give the warning 
of blistered and irritated skin, like 
poison ivy, but is far more deadly, pos¬ 
sibly the most poisonous of all our 
native plants. Its poisonous property is 
found chiefly in the root, but also in 
stem, seeds and leaves. The fleshy 
tubers are the most poisonous part of 
the plant, and they are dangerous be¬ 
cause mistaken for horseradish, parsnips 
or artichokes when plowed or washed 
out and exposed to view. Sometimes 
children mistake them for the anise- 
flavored sweet cicely, an innocent mem¬ 
ber of the same family, and a pitiful 
tragedy results. For there is no chemi¬ 
cal antidote known for the subtle al¬ 
kaloids that make the plant a menace, 
and beyond the cleansing of the diges¬ 
tive tract, the treatment must combat 
symptoms rather than causes- Many 
herbivarous animals are killed by this 
plant; sometimes they eat the tubers, 
and sometimes, in marshy places, they 
are poisoned by drinking contaminated 
water, resulting from trampling upon 
the roots. 
Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum, 
is not a native of this country; it comes 
from Europe and Asia, but like some 
other “assisted emigrants,” it becomes 
troublesome where naturalized. This is 
the “herb bennet” of old writers, also 
known as spotted parsley, fool’s parsley, 
poison snakeweed, cashes and wode- 
whistle. This is a smooth, purple- 
spotted, hollow-stemmed biennial, two 
to seven feet high, with large finely-cut 
parsley-like leaves, and showy clusters 
of small white flowers in July and 
August. The fresh leaves have a pecu¬ 
liar nauseating flavor, and when bruised 
emit a disgustingly mouse-like odor. 
This is nature’s warning, for the 
virulently poisonous alkaloid, conine, is 
found in all parts of the plant, being 
especially present in the leaves at flower¬ 
ing time. When in bloom the whole 
plant exhales a fetid odor, and pro¬ 
longed exposure ‘to the effluvia is said 
to have narcotic effects. The ridged 
seed, which has on its inner surface a 
deep narrow groove, contains the 
poisonous property in a high degree, but 
is used in medicine to some extent; 
alienists find conine of value in control¬ 
ling maniacal paroxysms. The root is 
said to be almost harmless in March, 
April and May, but is dangerous after¬ 
wards. Poisoning has occurred from 
eating the seeds for anise, the leaves for 
parsley, and the roots for parsnips. 
Children have also been poisoned by 
blowing whistles made from the hollow 
stems. Unlike the water hemlock, 
which causes frightful convulsions and 
other violent symptoms, poison hem¬ 
lock produces a gradual weakening of 
all muscular power, ending with paraly¬ 
sis of the lungs. It calls for immediate 
clearing of the digestive tract, strong 
tea, stimulants, warmth at extremities, 
and artificial respiration. Domestic ani¬ 
mals have often been killed by it, but 
the nauseating taste ought to warn the 
most heedless from the leaves. It is 
somewhat disquieting to learn that 
some of the anise seed in both foreign 
and domestic markets is ignorantly 
adulterated with hemlock. 
The Black Cherry, a handsome and 
valuable tree, is not generally viewed 
as poisonous, yet it is responsible for 
some mysterious deaths among cattle 
and horses. A horse may nibble at the 
tempting shoots upon the tree without 
harm, while wilting branches from the 
same tree may produce the labored res¬ 
piration, numbness, fright and convul¬ 
sions of prussic acid poisoning. It is, 
according to toxicologists, the chemical 
action of two non-poisonous substances, 
which, in wilting, liberate prussic acid. 
The poison is very volatile, and quickly 
passes off, but for a short period it is 
deadly. No doubt many cases of mys¬ 
terious poisoning among cattle may be 
traced to this cause, where the animals 
have had access to freshly-cut brush. 
The flesh of the fruit is not poisonous, 
but children have been killed by eating 
the kernels, and though this wild black 
cherry is often used to flavor liquors, 
the seed itself is open to suspicion. 
Toadstools. — Mushroom poisoning 
really seems like deliberate suicide, for 
its most common cause, the deadly 
amanita, is so distinct in appearance 
that one can hardly understand why 
anyone should gather it. There is no 
known antidote to phallin, its toxic prin¬ 
ciple, so the amateur mycologist would 
do well to abstain from rash experi¬ 
ments. Avoid fungi growing in woods, 
for while this cuts out some edible 
forms, it is a safeguard against the 
deadly amanita. The wholesome mush¬ 
room is always found wild in open 
fields. The deadly amanita has smooth 
satiny cap, white gills and spores; the 
white veil forms a cup at the base, 
which is absent in the true mushroom. 
The fly amanita has a warty cap, shad¬ 
ing from white or cream to yellow or 
even bright red. These are both ex¬ 
tremely deadly. 
False Hellebore.— This has bright 
green stemless plaited leaves, coming up 
in thick tufts in Spring. It is very dis¬ 
tinct, but is occasionally gathered with 
marsh marigold, and boiled for Spring 
greens, with fatal results. This plant, 
botanically Veratrum viride. is also called 
Indian poke, wolfsbane, devil’s bite and 
bear corn. It must be remembered that 
vegetable poisons are very variable in 
character, and individuals also differ in 
degree of immunity. The deadly upas 
of Java may be handled with impunity 
by a person who would be blistered by 
an innocent little Himalayan primrose. 
It is wise to avoid culinary experiments 
with unknown plants, and also to ac¬ 
quire at least a working acquaintance 
with those that need a danger flag. 
Your Fruit and Ground 
Crops are Not Yet Free 
from Insect Attack! 
Protect them now with the safest 
and surest of all spray materials— 
ELECTROS 
(The Powdered Form) 
It gives certain protection because it is sure death to all 
leaf-eating insects. It’s 100% stronger than other brands, 
yet is absolutely safe to use on tender foliage. Electro is the only kind 
in non-crystalline form; hence stays sus¬ 
pended, is distributed better, and sticks 
longer than any other brand. Mixes in¬ 
stantly with water or can be used dry as a 
dust. The most economical insecticide you 
can buy. Send for our proofs. 
THE VREELAND CHEMICAL CO., 32 Church St., New York 
Write for 
“Spraying Simplified” 
68 pages of definite, re¬ 
liable information on 
how to know insects 
and fungi and how to 
control them. FREE 
on request. 
eppAY V 
If you grow field crops in rows, you need this traction sprayer.We claim 
'L- A ^ IT that our Iron Age Traction Sprayers are equipped with the best 
M, /It. single or double acting pump^of any field sprayers made. They have less 
Traction 
Way I 
French Mushrooms. —According to the 
London Gardeners’ Chronicle. France is the 
great center for the production of mush¬ 
rooms. and it is estimated that the yield 
exceeds (>.000 tons per annum and brings 
in a return of considerably over a quarter 
of a million pounds sterling. According to 
an article on the subject in the Bulletin 
of the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence, 
the disused stoue quarries, clialk pits, and 
gypsum quarries in the neighborhood of 
large towns are used on a vast scale for 
mushroom cultivation. Thus, in the neigh¬ 
borhood of Paris alone, over 1,500 hands 
are employed in the industry, and the daily 
output at the height of the season amounts 
to 25 tons. After Paris and the “canning 
factories,” England is the chief market for 
French mushrooms, though they travel in 
refrigerators so far as the United States. 
The easiest 
surest way to 
kill bugs! 
|A*> 
■A’L. 
No one will ever use 
a liquid sprayer who 
has once used the 
CHAMPION 
/NSECT/C/DE 
DUSTER 
The Champion works faster—dusts two rows 
at once—as fast as a man walks. Weighs only 
six pounds. Simple to operate, any farm hand, 
even a boy can use it. It gives better results, 
at less expense—in time and material used— 
than any other machine. No water to carry. 
Least danger because the poison is kept at 
a safe distance. Price 58.oo. If your local 
dealer can’t supply you, we will ship direct on 
receipt of price. Guaranteed satisfactory. 
On large acreage, use the Beetle Duster. 
Dusts four rows as fast as a horse walks. 
Write for literature to 
LEGGETT & BROTHER 
301C Pearl Street, New York City 
IKONAC£ 
slippage than any other. The solution is always kept thoroughly mixed 
and delivered at high pressure in a fine spray, regulated by our adjustable 
relict valve. 
Traction Sprayers 
have 55 and 100 gallon 
tanks, 4 or 6 row sprayer 
equipment, special rigs for grain, pickles and other 
crops, wind shift attachment, adjustment for different 
width rows, pressure gauge and center drive from 
both wheels. 
Seethis sprayetonyourdealer’sfloor. Writeusatonce 
for special booklet. You owe it to yourself to know 
all about this machine. A post card will bring the 
information. We make a complete line of potato ma¬ 
chinery, garden wheel hoes and drills, etc. 
BATEMAN M’F’G CO., Box 10», Grenloch, N. J. 
CDDAY We Make 
OrK A r.?K£b?d 
a 
Bucket, Barrel, 4-Row Potato Sprayers, 
Power Orchard Rigs, etc. 
There’s a field sprayer for every need, pro¬ 
nounced by all experts the world’s best line. 
THIS EMPIRE KING 
leads everything of its kind. Throws 
fine mist spray with strong force, no 
clogging, strainers are brushed and 
kept clean and liquid is thoroughly 
agitated automatically. 
Spraying Calondar Free. Write for di¬ 
rections and formula. Also catalog on 
entire sprayer line. We have the sprayer 
to meet your exact wants. Address 
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO., 
2 1 1th St., Elmira, N. Y. 
ISACRE-AN-HOUR SIFTER 
applies dry insecticides to Potatoes, etc., 
as fast as a man can walk. At dealers, 75c. 
Prepaid by us, $1-00. Endorsed and sold 
by the Bup: Death and Slug: Shot people as 
the best. Farmer says: “Shvph its cost 
first time you uh© it.” Another: “Worth its 
weight in gold if I couldn't get another.” 
5 Sales increased lfiOOg over 1911. Won’tdis- 
appoint you. Saves time, work, money. 
flere-an-Hour Sifter Co., Po'keepsie, N. Y. 
Big Potato Crops 
Banish blight and bugs by spraying the new , 
thorough way, saturating thoroughly. Over 
300,000 farmers and gardeners use 
Brown’s Auto Sprays 
Auto Spray No. 1 is most powerful 
and efficient of all hand sprayers, 
Capacity four gal. Guaranteed to do 
best work inshortest time at lowestcost. 
Auto pop nozzle throws round, line, 
and coarse sprays and streams. Easiest 
to handle. 40 styles and sizes—hand and 
power outfits. Brown's Non-clou Atomic 
Nozzle tor largo sprayers—great time 
and money saver, positively will nott'og 
—adjustable from fine spray to powerful 
stream. > Write for complete Spraying 
Guide and full particulars. 
The E.C. Brown Co., 28 Jay St.,Rochester,N.Y. 
DRAINAGE ENGINEERING Greatly Inci eased 
Advice on drainage, soils and crops. 
T. E. MARTIN, 102 Standart St., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Inoculated Alfalfa Soil 
75c. per 100, or $10.00 per ton, f. o. b. cars Ashville, 
Pa. Send for free booklet. “How to Grow Al¬ 
falfa.” DR. H. SOMERVILLE, Chest Springs, Pa. 
LIME SULPHUR HYDROMETER ive Fruit-Crowers 
Price By M«i| With Tt»l 
Jar and Instructions_ _ — 
Agent* Wanted I very w here 
CARBONDALE INSTRUMENT CO.. Carbondaie, Pa 
DO YOU NEED FARM HELP ? 
The Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid So¬ 
ciety has on its lists men wishing to obtain em¬ 
ployment on farms. Many of them are without 
experience. They are able-bodied and willing to 
work. If you can make use of such help, please 
communicate with us, stating what wages you will 
pay, whether the work is permanent, and whether 
you prefer a single or a married man, with or with¬ 
out experience. Ours is a philanthropic organiza¬ 
tion whose object is to assist and encourage Jewish 
immigrants to become farmers. We charge no 
commission to employer or employee. Address 
FARM LABOR BUREAU, 176 Second Avenue, New York City. 
SLUG-SHOT 
USED FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN FOR 29 YEARS 
Sold by Seed Dealers of America 
Saves Currants, Potatoes, Cabbage, Melons, Flowers, Trees and 
Shrubs from Insects. Put up in popular packages at popular 
prices. Write for free pamphlet on Bugs and Rlights, etc., to 
B. HAMMOND - Fishkill-on-Hudson, New York 
