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INSECT  POWDER. 
INSECT  POWDER. 
By  Joseph  Abel. 
A  vegetable  powder,  under  the  name  of  Persian  Insect  Pow- 
der, has  lately  been  introduced  into  the  drug  market,  for  the 
extermination  of  insects,  vegetable  parasites,  etc.  Until  re- 
cently, the  botanical  source  of  this  powder  has  not  been  known. 
For  a  number  of  years  it  was  erroneously  considered  to  be  a 
native  of  Persia,  but  it  has  been  traced  beyond  question  by  Dr. 
Koch,  as  having  its  origin  in  the  Caucasian  provinces,  and  to  be 
the  contused  blossoms  and  flowers  of  Pyrethrum  Roseum  and 
Pyrethrum  Carneum.  It  is  of  a  yellowish  gray  color,  perfectly 
odorless,  yet  slightly  irritating  the  nostrils ;  at  first  almost 
tasteless,  but  afterwards  leaving  a  burning  sensation  upon  the 
tongue.  The  high  price  obtained  for  it,  taken  in  connection 
with  the  scarcity  of  the  article,  has  induced  dealers  to  adulter- 
ate it  with  plants  of  similar  characteristics,  such  as  chamomile 
flowers,  fleabane,  etc.,  but  the  presence  of  these  extraneous  sub- 
stances can  without  difficulty  be  detected  by  the  peculiar  odor, 
and  from  the  fact,  that  in  proportion  as  these  substances  are 
introduced,  the  efficacy  of  the  powder  is  impaired. 
From  experiments  lately  made  in  Europe,  it  has  been  suffi- 
ciently demonstrated,  that  the  plant  can  be  propagated  from 
the  seed,  and  that  it  will  thrive  well  in  a  climate  similar  to  that 
of  our  Northern  States. 
I  have  recently  been  informed  by  a  gentleman  who  obtained 
some  of  the  seeds  of  this  plant  from  the  Agricultural  Bureau  at 
Washington,  that  the  plants  therefrom  are  in  a  flourishing  and 
prosperous  condition. 
As  its  effects  for  the  destruction  of  bugs,  roaches,  parasites  on 
delicate  plants,  etc.,  has  been  fully  established,  and  it  being 
otherwise  harmless,  its  introduction  into  general  use  would  be 
of  great  importance  to  families  and  horticulturists,  from  the 
fact  that  it  would  exclude  the  use  of  poisonous  articles,  now  re- 
sorted to  for  such  purposes,  which  are  often  the  cause  of  serious 
accidents. 
Pittsburgh,  August  31,  1860. 
