2007.1.134

• photography

From caption on back of photograph: "Lieutenant Colonel Livingston Irving, Oakland flier, is seen here giving an exhibition of aerial crop dusting at Oakland airport. Irving is speeding at a fast pace as his craft wings its way seriously close to the ground. The white smoke pouring from the plane is a powder of lime used as an insecticide for spraying crops. On small farms an acre a minute can be dusted in this fashion, according to Irving, while large acreages are covered at the rate of 100 acres an hour. It isn't dangerous, it's just 'hazardous,' claims Irving." A propellor biplane flies close to the ground over Oakland Airport. It is trailing a long cloud of pesticide across the photograph. Most of the airfield appears to be flat grassland, with few visible paved surfaces. A few large aircraft hangars can be seen in the background; "BOEING" is written on the top of one. There is a distinct silver stain through the middle of the pesticide cloud.

Used: Oakland Tribune