The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-07-06
CARBON RIsuLPHlp.

From the Farmer and Breeder.
The use of carbon bisulphid as o
destroyer of insects is not as Well uh-
derstood or as much practiced as II
might be. 1t is a coiorless, Watery'
liquid made on a large scale BY pass
ing the fumes of burning sulphur over
red-hot charcoal and condensed TO d
liquid form by cooling II the lnpull"
ties removed thereIronl. The llquid IL
heavier han water and the Vapof loiiii
is heavier than air. 1t ev~aporates very
rapidly when exposed to the ar, as-
pending on the amount OF surface en-
posed, but may be preserved even III
an open vessel by covering with wa
ter, which will float on top like OIL does
on water. When perfectly pure the
LIQUID has an acrid taste and an DOOR
somewhat like chloroforln or ether.
Pure carbon bisulphid is completely
volatile and will not injure nor STAN
the finest fabrics. The ordinary COM
mercial article has a slightly yeioWlsh
color, due to it's impurities, winch also
gives it Il disagreeable odor, and also
adds to it's poisonous qualities. Inns
grade will stain goods because OF IT'S
i..uIrities not fully eNaporatin3, ana II
should not be poured upon food stu1fs,
though it's vapoT will do no harm.
The vapor from carbon bisulphld IS
much heavier than air, therefore II
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
It is a powerful disinfectant n lamps
have been invented to burn carbon
bisulphid in disinfeCtion work, but as
the effects are the same as BURNING
sulphur and the cost Of the latter is
much less it has not been much used
in that line.
HI inhalation of the gas produces
-. ~ -~--t ..-@ ~,>@ ~ fIt,n | "
death. These are the extreme effects,
but the ordinary use OF carbon bisul-
phid in fulnigation 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 one
must get into the fresh air.
The first use of the carbon biSulphld
as q means of killing insects was to
kill weevil in a bin Of corn or barley.
1t was also extensively used in France
to kill the grape p~hylloXera and was
found to kill butterflies, cicadas, wasps
and plant lice.
The department Of agriculture re-
ports tina it may be purchased in
small quantities Of any druggist at
from % to 50 cents per pound, but II
large quantities are needed it 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 crickets, as we'll
as borers in the trunks of trees and
the sucking insects on small plants.
Young melon, squash or cucumber
plants may be covered with eight boxes
and one or two tea~Spoonfuls of the
liquid on a saucer put under them.
In the course of half IN 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 il any
should nave been laid. A small sau-
Ger with some carbon bisulphid in it
or a sponge filled with the drug placed
on the top of q 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 its 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
as possible, and the fumes kill all
within reach. The holes must be
stopped up as tightly as possible to
keep all the gas in them. 1t can be
used in the hen house to destroy mites
and lice