New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15

,,, ,,bera u does enormous damage to rice. 1t
requires a warm climate In which to thrive. Inc
insect does not confne It's attention to rite but is
almost omnvorous in its appetite. Wheat maize
and corn are often infested by the rice weevii'
known among the farmers as the black weevil.
. uusked grain such oats. Is the only cereal
which is safe from It's ravages. The adult bee'le
s troublesome In storehouses and groceries where
II subssts on crackers. cakes. macaroni ana some
times invades barrels OF -four and meal. The insect
will even live on sugar alone for months ana DUR
row into ripenlng peaches end grapes
Another destructive insect which Is almost as IN
t,rIous as the true weevil is the Angoumois moth,
gelechia cerealella. named from the province OF
Angoumos, In France, where II Is extremely prey
slcnt Bread made from grain which was IN
tested by the larvae of the insect caused an epi-
demc some years ago in the province from which
il takes It's name. 1t is peculiarly dif'cut 10 guard
against. because the moth often lays Its eggs on
tho grain In the field Where stacks are left stand
ing for weeks in the field before thrashing' as IL
customary in this country the moth lays us eggs
on the grain and when It Is stored the gruD hatches
out and attacks the kernels. 1t Is known over mere
as the fly" weevil, and has been common IN the
country for more than century. In six months
ora,, infested by the insect loses 40 per cent OF its
weight and 10 per cent of ts starchy matter. while
the residue is not only unnt for human eonsnmp-
ton but actually poisonous,
THE MOST RECENT ARRIVAL
The latest grain destroyer imported into this
country IS the Mediterranean flour moth' ephestia
Kuchinela II comes from Germany ana mas peeh
here only few years, and only IN the southern
States The moth. which has already earned for
itself the title of the scourge OF the four-mill was
no,,cea In New-York State for the hrs time this
year The larvae OF the moth spin cylindrical
web which makes the -four clotted and lumpy,
thereby clogglng the machinery and boiling cloths
in a mill In this way thousands OF dollars have
been lost by ml-owners Flour Is the principal
food OF these grubs but they can live on bran and
nreparad cereal foods ard will even attack grain.
The four scourges mentioned are the ones which
are most dreaded on account of their numbers. but
a species OF weevi called the tribolium beetle Is
far more destructive in proportion to It's numbers
This beetle lays its eggs in the flour, and being OF
a whtish gray, they not easily detected. The
paIf a dozen erubs will spoil whole barrel Of
-four Fortunately. this beetle Is not plentiful and.
hsst friend so far as weevs are concerned, is
doubsdly little parasite which attacks the , Tse
and birds prey the moth weevils
After eafeleI ADVISES farmers to depend upon
bisuphide OF carbon as a destroyer OF the weeyiis
The liquid which is highly nnammabe should 0i be
waste which then TO be distributed on the sur
Of the grain av Te o Sn "peh 2 iop T
carbon bisulphide Is very volatile, and the Vapor.
,se grain and permeaes all through its bulk ki
INC eli Insects besides destroying any rats or mice
ubich may be in the grain. In France machines
are used which filled with grain and thea rap
dly revolved the violent shaking OF the grain
Liiiine any insects 1t may contain. Frequent STIR
Ting around and shovelllng Is also eicacious in de-
s.roving moths and the softer bodied grubs. Thor
ousb vcntation Is found beneficial In Europe and
Torthcrr America. where the climate IL cold. but
in India and other hot countries It IL OF no use.
10 cr,in can considered absolutely weevil proof.
though when unhusked IL is less likely 10 he at
husked rice oats and buckwheat are exempt from
the attacks Of the weevlL