Word: ddt
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...more entomologists study DDT, the new wonder insecticide, the more convinced they are that it may be a two-edged sword that harms as well as helps. To find out, they have lately taken to spraying entire islands and other large areas with it. The city of Toronto has now given a detailed report on one such test...
...scene was Toronto's Algonquin Park, heavily infested with budworm moths. City officials first gave the park a thorough DDT spraying by autogiro, then counted the survivors. Results: the deadly chemical killed not only the moths and other insects, but practically all invertebrates, especially crayfish; many minnows; some trout (those that ate poisoned insects); more than half of the snakes and frogs. It also damaged a few broad-leaved trees. But the census takers noted, with pleased surprise, that birds, chipmunks, mice, beaver and deer in the park were apparently unharmed...
...California entomologists have found that in too heavy or improperly timed doses DDT may be harmful to plants (especially tomatoes), animals and people (if they eat heavily sprayed fruit or vegetables). But they have also learned that with care most of DDT's dangers can be avoided: e.g., bees, which are vulnerable to DDT, can be protected against poisoning by spraying fruit trees before they blossom...
...Department of Agriculture, summing up two years of intensive, nationwide testing, last fortnight reported: 1) DDT is unquestionably the most promising insecticide ever developed; but 2) it is not yet safe for general...
...farmers and gardeners are better armed than ever before for this year's battles against their prime enemies-insects and weeds. Against insects, the wonder insecticide DDT is scheduled for large-scale Government tests and a limited amount will be available for civilian experiments this year. Against weeds, the No. 1 enemy, which cost farmers as much ($3,000,000,000) as all other pests combined, the prospects are even brighter. Some promising weapons: ¶ A flamethrower. Used mainly on cotton, sugar cane and corn plantations, this tractor-drawn implement spurts a 2,200° flame along the ground...