Middletown transcript., 1896-08-22
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eRANARY INSECTS.

Protecting Stored Grain - Bfsulphide O
Carbon VIII Destroy the Pests.
In bulletin 132 from the Michigan
State Agricultural college station G. c.
Davis makes these suggestions concern
ing the control of the common granary
insects. Tho first thing he observes is,
"Never put new grain into granary
on old grain. The second point to re.
member is to "clean the bins and gran
airy thoroughly each year before new
grain is put in. II granary. insects are
suspected after cleaning. fumigate with
bisulphide Of carbon or some such gas
before the new grain is put in. It will
cost less and can be better done before
the new grain is put in.
There is only one practical method by
which we can rid the granary of the
most Of its insect pests after they are
once we'll established in the grain, and
that is by the use Of bisulphide of car
bon. This clear liquid is very rapidly
converted into gas on being exposed
to the air. Owing to its being heavier
than air it settles rapidly through the
grain and quickly permeates the whole
of it 1t is highly infammable and ex-
plosive when ignited, and care must be
observed in keeping all light and fire
from the gas or near where it is con-
fined. Local druggists rarely keep the BIZ
sulphide Of carbon in stock as it SO read
lily evaporates, but probably your drug
gist would order it for you. If not, it
can be ordered by yourself from some
wholesale drug house in one of our
larger cities
If insects are present in the grain and
it is desired to treat them with the BIZ
sulphide of carbon, first consider whether
the granary or the bin is comparatively
tight. If it is very loose and open and
cannot be tightly closed. it may be nec-
essary to remove the grain to a tighter
receptacle, as the gas will escape too
quickly and the insects will merely be
stupefied. Wheat bins and bins for
ground feed can easily be made tight
enough. If cover is lacking, wet blan-
kets thrown over the grain may serve as
covers. When the bins containing the
grains are tight. a pound Of the bisul-
phide is said to be enough for 100 BUSH
els of grain. For moderately tight
bin, / or l 1s pounds to each ton of grain
is surer, and there is no danger of injury
to the grain either for food or for seed
when used at this rate. The liquid may
be poured directly on to the grain by
distributing it well over the surface. It
may also be placed i'll open dishes or on
an absorbent such as cotton batting,
where it will evaporate more slowly
and last longer. Where the grain is
more than four or five feet deep in the
bins, portions Of the bisulphide should
be put down near the middle of the
grain and about every two or three feet
apart. A piece Of gas pipe will be suit
able for this purpose. Inside the gas
pipe should be cylindrical stick that
can be drawn out Of the pipe as soon as
it is pushed down into the grain as far
as desired, and then the bisulphide can,
be poured down the gas pipe.
After the liquid has been applied,
cover the grain as quickly as possible
and leave it covered for "a or 86 hours,
when it can be opened up and aired. A
second application may be found neces-
sary in month or two after the first is
made. The bisulphide of carbon will
kill mice and rats that may be held in
the bin by inhaling the poisonous gas,
and it is also injurious to man when in
hailed i'll large quantities. There is no
danger in its use if handled with judg-
ment.