. The Canadian horticulturist [monthly], 1887. Gardening; Canadian periodicals. THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 181 but it is different with all the higher plants. Seeds soaked in a solution of arsenic will not germinate, and buds to which it has been freely applied will not expand, while the roots and young shoots of plants immersed in it perish. It lias been stated in the pages of the Horticulturist, I think, that only the leaves of the potato can be destroyed or the petals of the apple blossom, while the tubers in the one case, and the fruit in the other, remain unscathed. But this is only par
. The Canadian horticulturist [monthly], 1887. Gardening; Canadian periodicals. THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 181 but it is different with all the higher plants. Seeds soaked in a solution of arsenic will not germinate, and buds to which it has been freely applied will not expand, while the roots and young shoots of plants immersed in it perish. It lias been stated in the pages of the Horticulturist, I think, that only the leaves of the potato can be destroyed or the petals of the apple blossom, while the tubers in the one case, and the fruit in the other, remain unscathed. But this is only partially true, and what truth there is de{)ends entirely upon the circumstances of the applica- tion. The metal arsenic is insoluble in water, and so long as it remains insol- uble it very likely would be harmless to plants. But it is freely soluble in the alkalies, potash, soda, and ammonia, lime and other earths, as well as acids resulting from decomposition of vege- table matter ; all of which are more or less abundantly found in every variety of soil, and so soon as it is reduced to tlie solvent condition it is then readily taken up by the roots of plants, especi- ally by those of the coarser vegetables, the potato, cai*rot, paranip, etc. Simi- larly, also, in applying solutions of Paris green to the apple blossom, it is not only tliat the petals are destroyed, and this itself may be no small matter, but the poison may be absorbed by the fruit, or find its way into the ovary by the pistils, and in this way, if no greater mischief results, those who have a fancy for chewing the seeds of the apple may some day find themselves attacked with S3'mpton)S of arsenical poisoning. Thei'e are other sources of danger besides, such as the contamination of drinking water, in wells, springs, streams, etc. But I fear that I have already occupied too mucli of your limited space, and therefore will not pui'sue the subject any further at pres- ent. â Yours truly, C. Durham, June, 1887. iPlolu
Size: 1199px × 2084px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookpublis, booksubjectcanadianperiodicals, booksubjectgardening
