Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-13
DESTROYING aRAxARx wEEvms.

What is the use OF producing a large
crop of cereals in the south IL We make
no attempt to save and preserve the
grain obtained therefrom IN a suitable
condition for human and animal food.
Our country is a very wonderful one
from an AGRICULTURAL point OF view. We
produce enormous crops OF everything
under average conditions. but We do not
give a SUFFICIENT amount Of care ana az
tention to the preservation or the 1000
thus produced Probably this - que
10 our failure 70 understand the great
losses which insects as Insignificant as
the xranary weevil can produce More
over. the average individual does not
know what these losses amount 10. or
course when weevils infest corn. for
instance. they render il unit for human
food. They also destroy the viabihty
of the seed. and farmers planting X
viii obtain a poor or indifferent stand.
ana hence will gather only about half
n crop or have TO go 10 the expense
of replanting once or twice There is
no use in raising corn as feed FOR
weevils il Il can be prevented. for nat
urzIIy the more these insects injure
corn the less valuable it is AS amman
food.
With the present high prices and
the great demand for food OF all de-
scriptions. il is very important that We
preserve every pound OF II with the ut
most care. II has not been so impor-
tant for many years 70 keep the corn
crop in good condition for human food
a. during the present fall and winter.
This Is due to the fact that we are
under the necessity of saving wheat
ana sending large quantities of II abroad
for the use of our own armies and our
allies. Unless we do this the war is
likely to be greatly prolonged and the
losses of our men greatly increased
thereby. careful study OF the situa-
ton reveals the fact that the granary
EeeviI is probably responsible for the
destruction OF not less than 5.0OO.OOO
bushels OF corn in Georgia each year.
The same proportionate loss takes place
in the other southern states At pres
N.nt prices for corn this would amount
10 between 100000 and $4,000, 600
a year which We pay as a tribute 10
this one small Insignificant insect When
we consider the losses in all the other
southern states, il viii be seen that We
probably let the granaTy weevil eat up
corn to the value Of S25.0O0.0OO each
year. Surely il would pay us to make
some special effort to control the raw
ages OF this insect and one might nat
urally suppose that it would be almost
impossible 10 do this or else more at
tention to its control and destruction
would he evidenced. Strange to say,
IL is a comparatively easy thing TO COM
bat and the method Of destroying il IS
quite simple. All II takes is a little
initiative and the determination to de-
stroy it. Such being the case. il Is
worth while to present in some detail
for our --'Sers the exact method or
procedure to follow and urge upon them
the necessity OF so destroying and hand
ling their grain. whether derived from
corn or any other cereal. so as TO pre-
vent IT'S destruction by weevils this
winter.
The first thing necessary TO do is TO
put the grain in a comparatively tight
DIN or storage room Treatment can,
OF course. be effected in a ariblike struc-
ture such as is often used for the stor-
age Of corn. out il is needless to say
that the tighter the structure the more
effective the treatment and the smaller
amount or fTmigating material which ii
will De necessary 10 use. Any sort of a
contsiner that can be covered with q
heavy cloth will answer very well. on
most farms there will be a compare
lively small amount Of grain TO treat
so the operation will not be very expen-
sive- or difficult. and there is alway s
plenty OF time when this work can be
done IL there IS the disposition TO do IL.
The material 10 use in treating corn
or other cereals for the weevil is carbon
bisulphIde- IL IS colOrless liquid with
a very offensive odor ana evapOrates
readily OF exposure 20 the air. 1t is
much heavier than the air, so that il
sinks down through the grain instead OF
l. T. r.E
will not .niure the hands or clothing