The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-09
WELVIL IN CORN
PRDF: CoNRiaDr TELLS HOW TO
3 CONTROL THEM
Me Gives the Remedy Used at the

He Gives the Remedy Used at the
South Carolina Experiment Sta
4 ton. of Which He Is Entomclogist.
The weeyils lay their eggs In the
seed where the young larvae eat the
starch. When full grown they change
to the dormant or pupal stage, from
which the full grown weevil emerges
and works its way out to lay the
eggs for; another generation. The
entire time for egg laying to the de-
velopmert of the full growp weeyll
requires about six weeks.
The first step in controlling corn
7 weeyils is to select the seed corn IN
the field, paying special attention to
the ears that are well covered by
the shuck and If possible that hang
with the pointed end downward. This
is an i'm portant precaution, although
not sufficient to fully protect the
corn in the cribs.
Carbon bisulphide is a .colorless Il
duld with q strong disagreeable odor
!, It vaporizes rapidly at ordinary tenn
peratures, is highly inflamable, and
when ignited is explosive: It is,
therefore. important to keep away
fire of any kind, whether flame, lam
tern. embers. stove, lighted pipe or
cigar. This chemical is very widely
used at present and when the above
precautions are observed there are
no danger from accident. 1t may
be purchased at any drug store Or
chemical house, ranging from ten
TO twenty-five cents per pound. The
brand that has given the best salts
faction in our experimental work Is
named .Fuma and costs ABOUT ten
cents a pound. The liquid and va
por coming from it are heavier than
air and Will sink, therefore, the ap-
plication Is made at the top of the
crib and not from below. Fumiga-
zion should be done on warm days
as volatilization Is slower in cold
weather and consequently less effec-
tive
Assuming that the crib Is moder-
ately tight, 1t Is used at the rate OF
three pounds to ten bushels of grain,
,er approximately 1000 cubic feet
of space, the latter being for an
empty crib. It should be repeated in
ten days.
It may be distributed in several
shallow vessels, but the simplest way
/, is to sprinkle it over the top like
water and if blankets are available
the surface OF the corn should be
covered. Where the bin is open, the
best possible thing to do is to make
It tight. In case of log cribs this
may be accomplished by means OF
q canvas tackled over the walls.
Where only a small quantity Of
grain is to be fumigated, such as
seed corn or cowpeas used for seed,
lit may be accomplished by pouring
1t in coal oil or molases barrel.
Such barrel will accommodate pos
sibly three bushels. Three to FIVE
ounces of carbon bisulphide is pour
led over the surface and the barrel
tightly closed for twenty-four to
rhirty-six nours. The top Of the bar
rel may be made perfectly tight by
covering it with several burlap bags
weighted down with boards. u per-
manent covering for this purpose
may be made by heavily painting a
piece Of canvas o. proper size which
is then laid over the opening and a
barrel hoop dropped over the top to
hold it firmly In position.
Carbon bisulphide Is not poison
ous nor caustic. 1t drives the air
from the space to which it is applied
and causes sufrocation. When over
come by this gas in building, the
symptoms consists Of dry feeling
Of the skin and streaked headache,
accompanied by dizziness. This will
pass OF Immediately after person
reaches the fresh air. It is not ad-
{, yisable that people affected with
heart trouble handle this gas to any
great extent.
Among other methods for control
ling weevils, lime and salt are some
times recommended. These materials
are not nearly as effective as fumi-
CATION, while the decrease in the
palatability Of the corn. where lime
is employed, makes the use of this
material Objectionable.
The use Of each does not decrease
the palatability but, in order that
1t may do any good at all it must be.
used at heavy rate. A fair appli-
cation would consist Of rs to 100
pounds Of salt to 900 bushels of
corn. Better permeation is secured
when applying it in solution at the
rate OF two pounds salt to one gallon
of water. 1t must be applied when
the corn is put in the crib.
Prof. A. F. Conradi,
South Carolina Experimental Station
Entomolosist.