Evening journal., 1900-10-13
PREVENTION Oh
WEEVIL In GRAIN
Cleanliness and Goodness
Will Accomplish
Much
CARBON BISULPHIDE USEFUL
Delaware College Agriculture tx
pertinent Station Issues Bulletin
in Answer to Inquiries
CARBON BISULPHIDE USEFUL

on "Wecvn iu Grain" Ia answer 20 the
inquiries OF many Delaware farmers:
As commonly used. the phrase "weevll
in grain" includes some twenty OF thirty
eommon grain insects. Though the hab-
ts and structure OF these different pests
differ very widely thoy may all De sue-
cessfuily combated By similar methods of
prevention and destruction so that no
detailed description of them Is here nee
essary. AS there seems TO be a current
Impression. however. that many Of these
pests enter the granary with the grain
from the neld,it should be stated that this
opinion Is largely erroneous, as but few
OF them deposit their Gigs upon the grain
IN the field the large majority being
strictly granary pests. Many OF the
smaller beetles. such ~ the saw-toothed
grain beetle--one OF our most common
pests. are almost omnivorous not only
infosting grain. -four and meal, but at
tacling an sorts OF dried fruits and seeds.
and the adult beetles even feeding upon
such substances as starch. tobacco and
dried meats.
PREVENTION OF "wEEvII.."
Undoubtedly grain insects can usually
be more successfully combated by a
proper housing OF the grain No matter
how often the insects IN a granary are
destroyed, II the remainder OF the barn
Is fun OF dust sweepings and refuse. as
It generally IS. on which the beetles can
feed and IN which they viii breed. and II
the granary Is not absolutely tight, as
soon as the gas passes on the insects
from the barn viii again enter the gran
airy and soon It win be as badly infested
as ever.
Cleanliness.-Clea VIII accom-
plish much toward the prevention OF In
jury from these pests. the cause OF =
great proportion OF injuries In granaries.
mills. elevators. and other structures
where grain and feed are stored being
] directly traceable 10 disregard Of neat
ness. Dust, dirt rubbish and refuse ma
terial containing sweepings Of grain,
Hour and meal. are too frequently per-
rnitted 10 accumulate and serve as breed
ing places for a multitude OF injurious In
sects.
The floors, OF corners and walls Of the
barn or storehouse should be frequently
swept, and all material that has no COM
mercial value burned.
The Granary. ideal farmers gran
ary, from the standpoint OF insect raw
ages, should be built at some distance
from other buildings and the rooms con-
structed Of matched flooring so as to be
as near vermin proof as possible The
doors should nt tightly. closing upon a
rabbet, which may be covered with felt
or packing. and the windows covered
with frames Of wire gauze to prevent the
passage OF insects The floor. walls. and
ceilings should be smooth so as not 70
AFFORD any lurking places for the insects.
and It would be we'll to have them oiled,
painted. or whitewashed for further Sc
curlty A coating OF coal tar has been
strongly recommended for the latter pur-
pose
The value OF a cool place as "a reposi-
tory Of grain has been known or Old and
a building IN which any artificial heat is
employed IS undesirable for grain stor-
age. The heating" and fermentation OF
grain, as IS well known. Is productive OF
"weevil" and this should be prevented by
avoiding moisture and by ventilation.
The storage Of grain IN large bulk Il
20 be commended as the surface layers
only are exposed TO infestation. This
practice is particularly valuable against
the moths. which do not penetrate far be
meath the surface. Frequent agitation OF
the grain Is also destructive 70 Tn,
moths. as they are unable TO extricats
themselves from a large mass, and perish
Ia the attempt Tho true granary weevi
(sman dark brown beetles with long
curved snouts, similar 20 the pea woeviD
however. penetrate more deeply. and al
though bulking is Of value against them
IL is not advisable 10 stir the grain. as II
merely distributes them more thorough,
through the mass.
DESTRUCTION OF "wEEvIL."
Carbon Bisulphide.-The simplest
, most effective and inexpensive remed,
for all insects that affect stored grail
] and other stored products is the bisul
phide Of carbon, a colorless liquid with
= strong. disagreeable odor. which how
ever. soon passes away At ordinar.
. Temperature it vaporlzes rapidly, forming
D a heavy gas which is highly inhammabl
o and a powerful poison
e Appncatlon.-1t may be applied directl
e to the infested grain or seed without in
4 jury to its edible or germinative princi
+ pies by spraying with an ordinary water
a Ing can having fine rose nozzle. In mod
y erately tight bins It is more erectiv'
+ however. evaporating more slowly an
y dinusing more evenly, II placed IN shal
y low dishes or pans, or on bits OF cloth q
Il cotton waste, distributed about on tn
y surface OF the grain or infested materla
q The liquid volatilizes rapidly and bein
2 heavier than air descends and permeats
n the mass OF grain, killing all insects an
> other vermin present.
= Amount 20 Use.-The bisulphide Is ust
- ally evaporated in vessels containing on'
- fourth or one-half OF a pound each, an
- is applied I'm tight bins at the rate of
10 pound 20 pound and aha
"a TO one hundred bushels Of graf
nt and in more open bins a larger quantii
is used. For smaller masses Of grain
other material an ounce Is evaporated
We every 100 pounds Of the Infested matte
Bins may be rendered nearly air-tieht