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Pesticides Pre-DDT

This is a great book:  James Whorton, Before Silent Spring: Pesticides and Public Health in Pre-DDT America; Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1974, $12.50. No ISBN
 
Fran
 
On Fri, 3 May 2002 23:18:08 EDT A*@aol.com writes:
Barbara wrote:

"I have been told that R.O.W, s were treated with arsenic salts to stop vegetation.  I am inclined to believe that because I read about similar use of arsenic for domestic turfgrass infested with broadleaf weeds in the nineteenth century."

Not only was arsenic used as a herbicide, it also was used as an insecticide. Anybody out there every heard of paris green (also known as emerald green and Schweinfurt green) and London Purple? Both were insecticides used by generations of farmers well into the 20th century. Paris green was copper acetoarsenite; London Purple was a mixture of calcium arsenite and calcium arsenate. If you buy a really old house, with a really old barn or garage which hasn't been cleaned out, you still might find some of this in a jar tucked up under the eaves someplace. If you do (or if you find any other unknown substance tucked up under the eaves of an old house/barn/garage) dispose of it on your next local toxic waste collection day. Don't toss it in your trash. There's no telling what you've turned up with!

Lina
 

Fran Gustman, Editor
HortResources Newsletter
Boston, MA
fgustman@juno.com
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