The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-01-22

SEED that it Is unfit for planting. Corn
coming from the South, especially the
mint variety, is apt to be full of these
insects. Recently a manufacturer OF
nominy in Baltimore told MI they had
much trouble from this insect in their
corn. An exporter of grain also told
me they had to be on the constant
lookout for this pest in every cargo of
corn or wheat received from the South.
Last fall and winter, while attending
the various farmers institutes in the
dlfferent counties, almost invariably
this pest came up for discussion. 1t
was originally imported from Europe
by the early settlers of Virginia in
their supplies of wheat brought from
the old country. Once established on
American soil, it has spread far and
wide throughout the United States,
Texas, perhaps, suffering more than
any other state from it's ravages. Much
unnecessary loss is incurred each sea-
son simply from a lack Of information
concerning its habits and remedies
for its destruction. 1t is not difficult
to detect the presence of this insect
In wheat and corn in store. The grain
is light and very often peppered full OF
little round holes about the size OF a
pins head, the interior of the grain
having Deer eaten out by the young of
the moth. Very often the attack is SO
bad that nothing but an empty hull Is
left. The parent insect responsible
for this destruction is a small gray
moth, resembling a clothes moth, and
measures only about half an inch with
Its wings spread. 1t has a satiny lus-
ter, and it's hind wings are deeply
fringed. The eggs are deposited upon
the grain both in the field inc in the
granary. Usually about a week passes
before the egg matches. The young
worm Immediately eats it's way into
the kernel, where it feeds about three
weeks before maturity is reached. 1t
then transforms to a pupa, from which
the adult moth emerges a little later.
1t passes the winter in barns, gran
aries, storehouses, ETC., and when es-
tablished in an elevator or granary
will breed generation after generation.
Soon after harvest the moth flies out
from the g%ranaries to the fields and
deposits her eggs upon wheat still in
shock or stack. The larva passes
through the thresher in the grain IN
hurt, and is carried back to the gran
airy, etc. 1t is plain from these facts
that If g%ranaries are kept free from
this pest the shocks will not become
infested in the fields. If an individual
farmer, however, takes the trouble to
disinfect his granary, his wheat shocks
will be infested from moths coming
from the s~torehouses of his neighbors,
provided he does not thresh very soon
after harvest or before the eggs hatch
and the larvae penetrate the grain.
know there is more or less difficulty in
getting a thresher at the proper time
and where the wheat must be left in
the fields the farmer should disinfect
his granary 500 after the wheat Ii
stored. This insect has several nat.
ural enemies, and I have bred severa
small-winged parasites from 1t. Nc
doubt these agents keep it in checl
to a limited extent; but we must lool
to other sources for more efficient rem
edies. The most satisfactory remedy
now known is from the fumes of bi
sulphide Of carbon. This chemical Il
a very inflammable, volatile, foul
smelling liquid, as clear as water, will
a vapor so much heavier han air |
will penetrate every possible crack AM
crevice in a storehouse or bin. 1t cal
be thrown directly upon the grail
without injuring its vitality or it's edi
BILE qualities. Many persons hesitate
about using this b%isulphide of carbon
for fear of fire or injury to the grain
| have never heard of a case where
fire was caused by the use of this sub
stance, or where grain was injured
where it was used cautiously. Gun
powder, gasoline, kerosene, ETC., ar
dangerously explosive when carelessl
handled; and so is bisulphide of car
bon. This latter is not explosive 1
the same sense as %gunpowder; but, lik
gasoline and kerosene, it's fumes mus
be mechanically mixed with the air be
fore it will cause an explosion. Their
is no danger whatever if used properly
One pound of bisulphide of carbon t
every one hundred bushels of grain
all that is necessary for the destructio
of insects. 1t is best to place the ma
terldl IN SHALLOW ulSneS OF pans d
the grain, and hen close the bin tight
ly for at least t~wenty-four hours. Man
persons make a mistake by not usin
enough Of the substance, and then sa
it is of no account. 1t is an easy mai
ter to estimate the number of bushel
of grain in any enclosure, and then
Is not a difficult task to calculate ho'
many pounds of bisulphide should b
applied. If it is desired to fumigat
empty bins, etc., n pound of tn
chemical should be used for every loo
cubic feet of air space. Bisulphide
carbon is not expensive, and can b
bought in twenty-five and fifty-poun
cans at ten cents per pound, or in les
quantities at a little more per pound
! While in Dorchester county a fe'
weeks ago l was told that many pei
/ sons in that section covered the bot
} toms of their %granaries or bins wit
? Mexican tea or American wormsee
) (Chenopodium ambrosioides) befor
the grain was stored. This weed
known in that county as Jerusalel
+ oak, and has a very peculiar odor, esp
cially when dry. 1t is supposed thu
the moth is kept from the grain by tn
odor hat is emitted.
4 Whitening Peach Trees.