FRUIT SPRAYING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 2

FRUIT SPRAYING.

NO DANCER TO LIFE. Somo uneasiness has been caused of lato (says our Auckland correspondent) bv statements that havo been published relating to tho supposed danger arising from tho eating of fruit that has boon sprayed with arsenic mixture. Tho recent report of tho death of a gill in the south, which was allegedly duo to her having eaten u plum to which somo spraying mixture had adhered, has naturally not dono anything towards allaying that uneasiness. Inquiries on tho subject made by an. Auckland reporter at tho ollico of tho Government Nomologist (Mr. \Y. A. Boucher) elicited tho information that tho question of tlio danger to human life was mado tho subject ot experiment several vcars ago. lu tho 'Journal of Agriculture and Industries" published in September, 1902, an artido appeared in which tho following statement was made:—"lt is only when verv lato applications (of arsenic) are mado that anv of tho poison is found upon tho fruit when ripe, and then tho quantity is so minute that it could in no way causo injury to tho consumer. Tho poison sprayed upon tho apples, m milking the necessary treatment, should remain there undisturbed, as a person would bo obliged to eat nt ono meal eight or ten barrels (11001b. or 12001b.) of tho fruit in order to consumo enough arsenic to causo any injury." Tho Auckland reporter waa further informed that theso remarks entirely applied to tho spraying mixtures now being mostly used as recommended by tho Department. This particular mixture is Swift's arsenate of load, and experiments havo proved that no bad results havo followed tho eating of fruit so sprayed, or tho eating by stock of hay or grass cut from beneath tlio sprayed trees. Tho amount of poison left on a singlo sprayed apple is infinitesimal, and whilst tho precaution of wiping such fruit is not inadvisable, it is not necessary to obviate risk of serious effects.