History Of Pesticides

Pesticides were initially used haphazardly on any available pest and the effective pesticide was used. Often gardeners believed that the fouler the smell and taste, the more effective the pesticide!

1500 BC	Egyptians produce insecticdes against lice, fleas and wasps.
1000 BC	The Greek poet Homer reffered to a pest-averting sulphur.
200 BC	The Roman writer Cato advises vineyard farmers to burn bitumen to remove insects.
early 1700's	John Parkinson, author of 'Paradisus, The Ordering Of The Orchard' recommended a concoction of vinegar, cow dung and urine to be put on trees with canker.
1711	In England, the foul smelling herb rue was boiled and sprayed on trees to remove canthraid flies.
1763	In Marseilles, a mixture of water, slaked lime and bad tobacco was a remedy for plant lice.
1800's	Many developements occur.
1821	London Horticultural Society advised that sulphur is the remedy for mildew on peaches.
1867	The beginning of modeern pesticide use. Colorado beetle invade US potatoe crops and arsenic is applied.
1885	Professor Millardet, a French professor, discovers a copper mixture to destroy mildew.
late 1800's	French vineyard growers have the idea of selective weed killers.
1892	The first synthetic pesticide, potassium dinitro-2-cresylate, marketed in Germany.
1900's	Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides have all been discovered.
early 1900's	Inorganic substances introduced.
1932	Products to control house hold pests marketed.
1939	The Second World War causes three discoveries: 1. the insecticide DDT. 2. the organophosphrous insecticides. 3. the selective phenoxyacetic herbicides.
1945	After the Second World War, farming intensity intensified production.
1950's	Geigy introduces the carbamates.