The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-11-10
Weevils in Corn.

starch When full grown they change
to the dormant or pupal stage, from
which the full grown weevil emerges
and works it's way out to lay the eggs
for another generation. The entire
time, from egg laying to the develop
ment of the full grown weevil, re-
quires about six weeks.
The first stop in controlling corn
weevils 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 important precaution, although not
sufficient to fully protect the corn in
the cribs.
Carbon bisulphide is colorless
liquid with a strong disagreeable
odor. 1t vaporizes rapidly at ord1-
nary temperatures, is highly infam-
mable and when ignited is explosive.
It is, therefore, important to keep
away fire of any kind, whether flame,
stove, lantern, embers, lighted pipe
or cigar. This chemical is very wide
ly used at present, and when the
above precautions are observed there
are no dangers from accident. 1t
may be purchased at any drug store
or chemical wholesale house, ranging
from ten to twenty-five cents per
pound. The brand that has given the
best satisfaction in our experimental
work is named fuma and costs about
ten cents a pound. The liquid and
vapor coming from it are heavier
than air and will sink, therefore the
application is made at the top of the
crib and not from below. Fumigation
should be done on warm days as
volatilization is slower in cold wealth
er and consequently less effective.
Assuming that the crib is mod
erately tight, it is used at the rate
of three pounds to 100 bushels OF
grain, or approximately 1000 cubic
feet of space, the latter being for an
empty crib. 1t should be repeated In
ten days. It may be distributed in
several shallow vessels, but the sim
plest way is to sprinkle 1t over the top
like water and if blankets are avail
able 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 canvas
tackle over the walls.
Where small quantity of grain
is to be fumigated, such as seed corn
or cowpeas used for seed, it may be
accomplished by pouring it in a coal
oil or molasses barrel. Sush barrel
will accommodate about three BUSH
els. Three to five ounces of carbon
bisulphide is poured over the surface
and the barrel tightly closed for
twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The
top of the barrel may be made per-
fectly tight by covering it with sew
eral burlap bags weighted down with
boards. A permanent covering for this
purpose may be made by heavily
painting a piece of canvass of proper
size, which is then laid over the open
ing and a barrel hoop dropped over
the top to hold it firmly in position.
Carbon bisulphide is not poisonous
nor caustic. It drives the air from the
space to which it is applied and
causes suffocation. When overcome
by this gass in building, the symp-
toms consist of a dry feeling of the
skin and a streaked headache, &C
companied by dizziness. This will
pass off Immediately after person
reaches the fresh air. 1t is not ad-
visable that people affected with
heart trouble handle this gas to any
great extent.
Among other methods for controll-
ing weevils, lime and salt are some
times recommended. These materl-
ais are not nearly as effective as fu-
migation, while the decrease in the
palatability of the corn, where lime is
employed, makes the use of this ma
terial 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 appllca-
ton would consist of rs to 100
pounds of salt to 500 bushels of corn.
Better permeation is secured when
applying it in solution at the rate of
2 pounds of salt to one gallon OF
water. 1t must be applied when the
corn is put in the crib.
PROF. A. F. CONRADI,
S. C. Experiment Station Entomolo-
gist.