THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
447 
THE VALUE OF FUMIGANTS IN COMMERCE 
By GERALD McCARTHY 
Many forms of diseases and insect parasites have been 
distributed far and wide by fast trains and steamships, thus 
infecting territories which otherwise they would not have 
reached. The ticks carrying the germs of Texas fever, and 
those infected with spotted fever have been transported in 
infected stock cars, while steamships have carried the 
mosquitoes which transmit yellow and malarial fevers from 
southern to northern parts. Recently the plague has been 
introduced into San Francisco, and also into English ports, by 
ships from the Orient. The rat is the common carrier of the 
plague, and fleas transport the disease from rats to humans. 
Obviously the best remedy is one which will kill both the rat 
and the flea, and for such use only a gas is practicable. 
There are three substances more or less commonly used as 
fumigants: i. Hydrocyanic (Prussic) acid gas; 2. Sulphur¬ 
ous gas; and 3. Carbon bi-sulphide. 
Of these, the last is too dangerous, being very inflammable 
and explosive, for use where there is fire or light. The second 
is slow in action, does not penetrate well, discolors paints and 
fabrics, and reacts upon metals. The first named is prompt 
and powerful in its action, possesses extremely great pene¬ 
trating power, and is not likely to explode or ignite. It is of 
special value in cleansing ships from southern and oriental 
ports of such vermin as bed bugs, lice, ticks, rats, lizards, 
white ants, etc. Bedding can be satisfactorily freed from 
mosquitoes, moths, and other insects by simply piling loosely 
and fumigating with hydrocyanic acid gas for one hour. 
Another important use for hydrocyanic acid gas is freeing 
fresh apples for export from San Jose scale. Most European 
governments now make a 'rigorous inspection of such fruits 
before allowing entry, and destroy all that are found infected. 
Severe losses have been inflicted upon American apple 
exporters in this way. More than one and one-quarter 
million barrels of apples arc annually exported from the 
United States. Infected fruit should not be prepared for 
A NEW IDEA 
The editorial office of The National Nurseryman has 
recently received a unique pamphlet, illustrating in a pic¬ 
torial way the views to be found about the residence and in 
the gardens of Dr. Rudolph Schiffmann, Pasadena, California. 
One of the interesting features about this is that the grounds, 
while embracing only six acres, are so ingeniously, skillfully, 
and artistically arranged, that they convey the impression of 
much greater area. The photographs are taken after three 
years of care and culture, and certainly represent extraordi¬ 
nary rapidity of development for that period. The central 
thought which is paramount in many of the pictures is that of 
a home. The surroundings are an integral part of the 
dwelling, and while some thought and attention has been 
given to developing illustrations of various exotic types of 
gardening, yet these are so harmoniously blended that they 
make a complete and satisfactory picture. 
The idea of stimulating home building by a series of attrac¬ 
tive half tones of this kind is new, but decidedly effective. 
export, but for the protection of domestic commerce in fresh 
fruits, and as a precautionary measure, all such fruits should 
be fumigated before shipment. The fruit need not be 
removed from the barrels or boxes, but the barrel head must 
be temporarily removed, or a few half-inch auger holes bored 
into it, to admit the gas. Fruits wrapped in paper need not 
be unwrapped. The best way to fumigate fruit packages, 
trees and similar objects, is to use a room of suitable size, lined 
with common, soft building paper, with the edges lapped and 
glued. The room should be dark. The gas is lighter than 
air, hence must be placed below the object to be treated. 
The time required to insure destruction of insects is one hour, 
but longer exposure will do no harm. 
The following formula is recommended: For each 1000 
cubic feet of space. Potassium cyanide, 98% pure, 10 ounces; 
Sulphuric acid, commercial, 10 ounces; Water, cold, free from 
chlorides, pints. Directions: Place the ^vater in a 
glazed pitcher of twice the volume of the formula; slowly 
add the sulphuric acid, and when all is in, shake the pitcher. 
Let stand until cooled to about 60 degrees. Weigh out the 
cyanide and place in a paper bag. When all is ready, drop 
the bag containing the cyanide into the diluted acid and 
quickly leave the room. Do not enter the room so long as 
the odor of bitter almonds persists. If the room is larger 
than 2000 cubic feet, use one generating vessel for each such 
unit of space. Be careful in handling the acid; if it should 
spatter on the hand or clothing, immediately wet the part 
with ammonia, or a solution of soda. 
In preparing this fumigant, be careful to use only the 98% 
pure potassium cyanide. There is on the market a decep¬ 
tively labelled article, “American Cyanide,’’ which, in fact, 
is-a soda cyanide. This substance is with difficulty freed 
from chlorides. Chlorides decompose cyanides, and even 
one per cent of common salt, sodium chloride, will render a 
cyanide worthless as a fumigant. 
HEAVY APPLE RECEIPTS IN PHILADELPHIA 
More than a hundred cars of apples were received in 
Philadelphia during the last week of October. These heavy 
receipts caused a decline of from fifty to seventy-five cents 
per barrel. The prevailing prices were from $2.00 to $2.50 
for Kings, $2.00 to $3.00 for Hubbardstons, $2.50 to $3.00 for 
Baldwins, and slightly lower for Greenings. 
VARIETIES OF PEACHES FOR ESSEX COUNTY, 
MASSACHUSETTS 
Mr. A. F. Tenny of Essex County, Massachusetts, 
recommends the following varieties of peaches for that section 
They are given approximately in order of ripening: Carman, 
Hiley, Champion, Mountain Rose, Belle of Georgia, Craw¬ 
ford, Oldmixon, and Kalamazoo. For a late peach, the 
writer recommends Stevens’ Rareripe. 
