Waukesha, Oct. 7-10. Waupaca County Agricultural Society, Waupaca Agricultural and Mech'l Associati'n, Waupaca, Sept. 10-12. Waushara Cour ty Agricultural Society, Wautoma, Sept. 24-26. Northern Wis. Ag'l & Mechanical Association, Oshkosh, Sept. 15-19. Wood County Agricultural Society, Grand Rapids, Sept. 2-5. Henry Luecke, Carl Wippermann, Trempealeau. Red Mound. Whitewater. Waupaca. Burnett Junction. D. H. Puicifer, Shawano. Byron Sanford, Lind Center. A. M. Andrews, J. D. Parish, Sheboygan Falls. A. H. Kneeland, E. Powell, E. Frankenberg, Geo. F. H. Barber, D. Parish, S. M. Olds, ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. By F. W. CASE. HISTORY AND CULTIVATION OF PYRETHRUM.-As this plant is doubtless soon to come into general use as an insecticide, everything in relation to its history and cultivation will be of interest, and therefore we copy a very interesting article on this subject, written by Prof. Riley for the American Naturalist : "There are very few data at hand concerning the discovery of the insecticide properties of Pyrethrum. The powder has been in use for many years, in Asiatic countries, south of the Caucasus mountains. It was sold at a high price by the inhabitants, who successfully kept its nature a secret, until the begining of this century, when an American merchant, Mr. Jumtikoff, learned that the powder was obtained from the driel and pulverized flower heads of certain species of Pyrethrum, growing abundantly in the mountain region of what is now known as the Russian province of Trans Caucasia. The son of Mr. Jumtikoff began the manufacture of the article on a large scale, in 1828, after which year the Pyrethrum industry steadily grew, until to day the export of the dried flower-heads represents an important item in the revenue of those countries. "Still less seems to be known of the discovery and history of the Dalmatian species of Pyrethrum (P. cinerariafolium), but it is probable that its history is very similar to that of the Asiatic species. At the present time, the Pyrethrum flowers are consid. ered by far the most valuable product of the soil of Dalmatia. "There is also very little information published regarding either the mode of growth or the cultivation of Pyrethrum plants in their native home. As to the Caucasian species, we have reason to believe that they are not cultivated, at least not at the pres ent time, statements to the contrary notwithstanding. The wellknown Dr. Gustav Radde, director of the Imperial Museum of Natural History at Tiflis, Trans Caucasia, who is the highest living authority on everything pertaining to the natural history of that region, wrote us recently as follows: 'The only species of its genus, Pyrethrum roseum, which gives a good, effective insect powder, is nowhere cultivated, but grows wild in the basal-alpine zone of our mountains, at an altitude of from six to eight thousand feet. From this it appears that this species, at least, is not cultivated in its native home, and Dr. Radde's statement is corroborated by a communication of Mr. S. M. Hutton, Vice-Consul General of the United States at Moscow, Russia, to whom we applied for seed of this species. He writes that his agents were not able to get more than about half a pound of the seed from any one person. From this statement it may be inferred that the seeds have to be gathered from the wild and not from the cultivated plants. "As to the Dalmatian plant, it is also said to be cultivated in its native home, but we can get no definite information on this score, owing to the fact that the inhabitants are very unwilling to give any information regarding a plant the product of which they wish to monopolize. For similar reasons we have found great difficulty in obtaining even small quantities of seed of P. cinera rifolium that was not baked or in other ways tampered with to prevent germination. Indeed, the people are so jealous of their plant that to send the seed out of the country becomes a serious matter, in which life is risked. The seed of Pyrethrum roseum is obtained with less difficulty, at least in small quantities, and it has even become an article of commerce, several nurserymen here, as well as in Europe, advertising it in their catalogues. The species has been successfully grown as a garden plant for its pale rose or bright pink flower rays. Mr. Thomas Meehan, of Germantown, Pennsylvania, writes us: 'I have had a plant of Pyrethrum roseum in my herbaceous garden for many years past, and it holds its own without any care much better than many other things. I should say from this experience that it was a plant which will very easily accommodate itself to culture anywhere in the United States.' Peter Henderson, of New York, another well known and experienced nursery man, writes: 'I have grown the plant and its varieties for ten years. It is of the easiest cultivation either by seeds or divisions. It now ramifies into a great variety of all shades, from white to deep crimson, double and single, perfectly hardy here, and I think likely to be nearly everywhere on this continent.' Dr. James C. Neal, of Archer, Florida, has also successfully grown P. roseum and many varieties thereof, and other correspondents report similar favorable experience. None of them have found a special mode of cultivation necessary. In 1856 Mr. C. Willemot made a serious. attempt to introduce and cultivate the plant on a large scale in France. As his account of the cultivation of Pyrethrum is the best we know of, we quote here his experience in full, with but few slight omissions: The soil best adapted to its culture should be composed of a pure ground, somewhat silicious and dry. Moist ure and the presence of clay is injurious, the plant being extremely sensitive to the excess of water, and would in such case immediately perish. A southern exposure is the most favorable. The best time for putting the seeds in the ground is from March to April. It can be done even in the month of February if the weather will permit it. After the soil has been prepared and the seeds are sown they are covered by a stratum of ground mixed with some vegetable mould, when the roller is slightly applied to it. Every five or six days the watering has to be renewed, in order to facilitate the germination. At the end of about thirty or forty days the young plants make their appearance, and as soon as they have gained strength enough they are transplanted at a distance of about six inches from each other. Three months after this operation they are transplanted again at a distance of from fourteen to twenty inches, according to their strength. Each transplantation requires, of course, a new watering, which, however, should only be moderately applied. The blossoming of the Pyrethrum commences the second year, toward the end of May, and continues to the end of September.' Mr. Willemot also states that the plant is very little sensitive to cold, and needs no shelter, even during severe winters. "The above quoted directions have reference to the climate of France, and as the cultivation of the plant in many parts of North America is yet an experiment, a great deal of independent judg ment must be used. The plants should be treated in the same manner as the ordinary Asters of the garden or other perennial Compositæ. เ "As to the Dalmatian plant, it is well known that Mr. G. N. Milco, a native of Dalmatia, has of late years successfully cultivated Pyrethrum cinerariafolium near Stockton, Cal., and the powder from the California-grown plants, to which Mr. Milco has given the name of 'Buhach,' retains all the insecticide qualities, and is far superior to most of the imported powder, as we know from experience. Mr. Milco gives the following advice about planting advice which applies more particularly to the Pacific coast: Prepare a small bed of fine, loose, sandy, loamy soil, slightly mixed with fine manure. Mix the seed with dry sand and sow carefully on top of the bed. Then with a common rake disturb the surface of the ground half an inch in depth. Sprinkle the bed every evening until sprouted; too much water will cause injury. After it is well sprouted, watering twice a week is suf ficient. When about a month old weed carefully. They should be transplanted to loamy soil during the rainy season of winter or spring.' "Our own experience with P. roseum, as well as P. cinerariæfolium, in Washington, D. C., has been so far quite satisfactory. Some that we planted last year in the fall came up quite well in the spring, and will, perhaps, bloom the present year. The plants from sound seed which we planted this spring are also doing finely, and as the soil is a rather stiff clay, and the rains have been many and heavy, we conclude that Mr. Willemot has overstated the delicacy of the plants. "In regard to manufacturing the powder, the flower heads should be gathered during fine 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 and utilized, being ground and mixed with the flowers in the proportion of one-third of their weight. Great care must be taken not W. S. A. S.-28 |