POISONS IN FARMERS’ HANDS.

Western Star, Issue 346, 24 April 1880, Page 3 (Supplement)

POISONS IN FARMERS’ HANDS.

The great increase during the-past thirty years, nh s the variety and number of, insects, which destroy the farmers’ crops has made it-ntefeebsary, for purposes-of defence,, to,■ purchase >a : hd have upon,the premises some ; very; active rpoisonoua agents, mineral' and vegetable.;. . Ampng these, may be named’ Paris greed fojf’destroying thepotato beetle, hellebore powder-fbf 5 the-feurranfc worms,'. Toss bugs, &c., : and--Strychnine fop crows, blackbirds,;. &c., in. cprpfields.;t' ‘Thesecomprises some of; the most, potent. deadly poisons known to science., Tly .the: mostdangerous is Paris ‘ green, because l it .has come into such general use that it is Tound in'’almost, every farmhouse, in the country*^'■> ;N"ow it is a well-known principle ■ih.ihuman-conduct- that familiarity. w|lth danger,engenders,indifferen«v carelessness, and negligence, .consequently, however timid an.l cautious one may, be in the first handling of dangerous implements or agents, in course of time extraordinary Safeguards aire not, thought of, and great succeeds to. extreme cautions We were -impressed, with this*, fact by fortunately happening io observe a farmer in thb hurry of having timie in July seizea ■ wooden stirrer which had been used to’ inix Paris green with flour and thrust it into a stone pitcher containing oatmeal and) water, ; designed for the men in the field. n -Of. course the peril was instantly pointed oqt,. „thq;. was. thrown away, and perhaps life, was saved.. It was an incident well calculated to create a feeling of apprehension-in-regard to the employment of this poison by farmers.;; .It was kept in a toob bouse, where also was the package of, oatmeal* and here the mixing Of thi poision . and tlia beverage took; place. The stirrer,' covered with* the green powder, was the implement nearest at hand, and it was thoughtlessly seized in the ' hurry of the moment. All these conditions and. circumstances show great, carelessness, ;but is it ’ greater than that shown by others: in different Ways? We fear not. In this first place, ne, poisonous substances should be stored on - farm premises, unless it be an unused cellar or outbuilding. It is better to make a tight box largeenough to bold all the poisons needed to be kept on hand, together with dredging boxes, stirrers, &c,, and place this in a secure place away from foods and animals. Again, in using Paris green, in gardens care must be observed that no peas,, beans, or other vegetables are in close proximity to the potatoes, as the powder, might fall of .be blown upon them, and thus reach the dining tableand cahse mischief. These poisons are: of immense benefit to farmers, but, like gunpowder and other useful though dangerous agents, they should be used with intelligent and constant care,—Journal of Chemistry. ’