ON  THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  NOXIUOS  INSECTS. 
$7 
destroying  them.  The  inhabitants  of  the  regions  of  Europe 
and  Asia,  near  the  Caucasian  mountains,  seem  to  have  been  the 
first  to  discover  the  properties  cf  the  Pyrethrum,  and  try  on  a 
large  scale  the  powders  obtained  from  these  plants.  The  spe- 
cies employed  differ  according  to  the  different  localities. 
It  is  easy  to  comprehend  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cauca- 
sus choose  for  their  use  that  kind  which  is  most  abundant  in 
their  own  country.  Thus,  in  Armenia  they  prefer  the  red  Py- 
rethrum  (P.  roseum,  Biebers),  commonly  called  "  lowizachek," 
or  flea  plant. 
The  Persian  powder,  which  appears  most  extensively  used,  is 
almost  wholly  composed  of  the  flesh-colored  Pyrethrum  (P. 
carneum,  Biebers.)  Dr.  Ch.  Koch,  in  his  "  Travels  in  the  East  " 
gives  very  curious  details  respecting  this  precious  species  in  the 
Caucasian  regions.  In  the  "  Journal  de  la  Socie'te'  Imp^- 
riale  et  Centrale  d'  Horticulture  de  la  Seine,"  vol.  iii.,  1857, 
p.  756,  also  may  be  found  an  analysis  of  a  note  by  Mr.  Neu- 
mann, of  Brcslau,  on  the  "  Culture  and  Preparation  of  the 
Powder  of  the  Pyrethrum  carneum." 
We  may  here  remark,  in  passing,  that  in  countries  where  the 
most  frequent  use  has  been  made  of  these  powders  of  Pyre- 
thrum, they  have  only  been  applied  to  the  destruction  of  those 
insects  which  are  troublesome  in  dwellings.    Our  object  has  been 
to  select  from  the  different  plants  the  one  which  presents  the 
greatest  range  of  efficacy  ;  and  we  have  been  more  exacting  in 
this  than  heretofore  has  been  the  case  in  seeking  a  plant  of  in- 
contestable efficacy  for  the  destruction  of  insects,  and  which 
can  be  so  applied,  not  only  to  vermin  in  the  house,  but  also  to 
those  insects  which  every  year  commit  such  great  ravages  upon 
the  cereals,  fruit-trees,  leguminous  and  ornamental  plants,  etc. 
A  plant  was  desirable  which  can  easily  be  acclimatized  in  France, 
the  properties  of  which,  in  its  wild  state  in  its  native  regions, 
are  neither  destroyed  nor  weakened  by  cultivation,  and  which 
can  h£  raised  with  but  slight  attention  to  its  culture.    We  want, 
finally,  a  productive  plant,  to  the  end  that  the  powder  it  fur- 
nishes may  be  sold  at  a  very  low  price.    Such  a  plant  we  are 
now  fortunate  enough  to  introduce  for  the  public  use.    Its  effi- 
cacy has  been  fully  proved  by  a  great  number  of  persons,  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter ;  its  acclimatization  is  very  satisfactorily 
