Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-07-07

CARBON

From the Farmer and Breeder.
The use OF carbon bisulphid as =
/ destroyer of insects Is not as Well IN
derstood or as much practiced as ~
might be. 1t is a colorless, Watery'
liquid made on a large scale oy pass
ing the fumes of burning ulphur over
RED hot charcoal and condensed 10 d
LIQUID form by cooling and the impurl-
ties removed therefrom. The liquid Is
heavier than water and the Vapor Iorih
is heavier than air. 1t evaporates very
| rapidly when exposed to the air, de-
pending on the amount or surface eA-
posed, but may be preserved even IN
an open vessel by covering with wa
ter, which will float on topl like oil does
on water. When perfectly pure the
liquid has an acrid taste and an door
somewhat like chloroform or etheF'
Pure carbon bisulphid is completely
volatile and will not injure nor stain
the finest fabrics. The ordinary COM
merciai article has a slightly yellowish
color, due to it's impurities, which also
gives it a disagreeable odor, n also
adds TO it's poisonous qualities. This
grade will stain goods because OF It's
is.us.ities not fully evaporating, and IL
should not be poured upon food stuffs,
though its vapor will do no harm.
The vapor from carbon bisulphtd is
much heavie than air, therefore IL
tends to become much more dense IN
the lower levels and works downward
more strongly than upwards. 1t Is
used on top of articles which contain
insects which 1t is desired to destroy.
II is a powerful disinfectant and lamps
have been invented to burn carbon
bisulphid In disinfectfon work, but as
the effects are the same as burning
sulphur and the cost of the latter is
much less 1T has not been much used
in that line.
The inhalation of the gas produces
EiddineSs, vomiting, coma, and finally
death. These are the extreme effects.
but the ordinary use of carbon bisul-
phid in fumigation of mills, ware
houses. etc, is not at all dangerous If
reasonable care is used. The smell is
very noticeable at first, but soon the
senses all become dulled and before
there is any material dizziness n
must get into the fresh air.
The first use of the carbon bisulphid
as a means of killing insects was to
kill weevil in a bin OF corn or barley.
II was also extensively used in France
to kill the grape p~hylloxera and was
found to kill butterflies, cicadas, wasps
n plant lice.
The department Of agriculture re-
ports that Il nay be purchased in
small quantities OF any druggist at
from Is to 35 cents per pound, but IL
large quantities are needed ii should
be procured from the wholesaler at
about 10 cents per pound in fifty pound
drums.
1t may be used to destroy ants,
white grubs and mole crick-ts, as well
as borers in the trunks of trees and
the sucking insects on small plants.
Young melon, squash or cucumber
plants may be covered with light boxes
and n or two teaspoonfuls of the
liquid on a saucer put under them.
In the course of half an hour or an
hour the insects will all be killed and
the plants will not be injured.
Seeds may be treated with carbon
bisulphid to prevent injury by insects
and not injured thereby. Nothing is
better for use in storing furs or winter
clothing TO keep them free from moths.
While moth balls or other articles may
keep off the moth fly, they will not
destroy the moth nor the eggs If any
should have been laid. A small sau-
GER with some carbon bisulphid in it
or a sponge filled with the drug placed
on the top of a chest of clothing will
protect the contents absolutely if the
chest is reasonably tight.
The ranchman uses it to kill prairie
dogs and the farmer can get rid of
the pocket gopher or the field squirrels
by it's use. Perhaps it may be en-
ployed successfully against rats. The
liquid is put on wads of cotton or dried
horse balls and put as far in the holes
az possible, and the fumes kill all
within reach. The holes must be
stopped up as tightly as possible to
used in the hen house to destroy mites