You down with DDT?

Yeah, you know me.

"Hey Mom! Can you spray my oatmeal with some more of that dee-licious DDT?" "Sure, Sweetie! Say when!" [spritz spritz spritz spritz...]
“Hey Mom! Can you spray my oatmeal with some more of that dee-licious DDT?” “Sure, Sweetie! Say when!” [spritz spritz spritz spritz…]
Du Pont (DuPont) magazine ad for DDT and other happy fun chemicals — Found in the April 1947 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
Du Pont (DuPont) magazine ad for DDT and other happy fun chemicals — Found in the April 1947 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

Fun facts:

DDT stands for dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane (also Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). And now you know why they called it DDT instead.

In 1955 alone, 500 million pounds of DTT was produced.

Some houseflies turned out to be resistant to DDT.

DDT got a dude a Nobel Prize.

And then there’s the whole thing about DDT and raptors and shell thinning and OMG they’re still fighting about that so I’m not going to link to anything about it.

The ad copy:

New Products from Du Pont

One Product Kills garden insects..stops diseases!

Du Pont Garden Dust

This new product contains DDT and rotenone to kill insects…Du Pont “Fermate” and “Zerlate” fungicides to stop and prevent diseases. It is specially formulated by Du Pont to control most insects and diseases at the same time! Use as dust or spray…on most vegetables, flowers, fruit trees and ornamentals. Handy 8-oz. dust gun and larger economy sizes.

New 2,4-D Weed Killer

Du Pont “Karmex”

Get rid of ugly lawn weeds this new, easy way! One “Karmex” tablet, dissolved in 2 qts. water, kills weeds in 100 sq. ft. of average lawn for less than a nickel! Apply preferably with sprayer, or sprinkling can. Won’t harm common lawn grasses. Bottles of 25 and 100 tablets.

New help for rose growers

Du Pont Rose Dust

Dust or spray on roses, carnations, snapdragons, tulips, etc. Stops many foliage diseases. Compatible with most insecticides. In handy 8-oz. dust gun, other sizes.

Kills poison ivy

Du Pont “Ammate”

Permanent kill for poison ivy, poison oak, sumac, other tough growth. Destroys roots and foliage. Use on driveways, paths, walks. Not for lawns. 2-lb. and 6-lb. bottles and larger sizes.

New DDT products knock out household insects

Now—from Du Pont research—two outstanding household insecticides! Use them to rid your home of flies, mosquitos, roaches, bedbugs and many other insect pests. They’re easy to use! They’re safe to use! Both are quick-acting, long-lasting!

New Du Pont 5% DDT Insect Spray

For screens, closets, walls, etc.

Brush it on screens! Spray it on other surfaces! Quickly dries to an invisible film that knocks out insects when they light! Contains fast-acting Pyrethrins. Often retains killing power for months! In pint, quart and gallon sizes.

New Du Pont 10% DDT Insect Dust

For shelves, cracks, out-of-way places

Kills crawling bugs where they hide! Contains quick-kill Pyrethrins. Safe to use on pets except cats. Handy 1-oz. puffer can, handy 8-oz. dust gun.

Don’t be without these proven Du Pont products for better living! Get them before pests strike. At drug, hardware, and seed stores everywhere. E. I. do Pont de Nemours & Co. (Inc.), Semesan Division, Wilmington 98, Del.

Du Pont
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.

Better things for better living…through chemistry

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