Phoenix tribune., 1918-11-02
The Proper tFur1igatior1
n8 OF Farm Granar-ies
If e. A. n.y. Merrill, state Er;omcIog..

Small lots of grain, seed OF other
products can be fumigated in water
tight barrels or boxes. closed, after
the dose of carbon bisulfid,
by tying tightly over the top a double
thickness of heavy wrapping paper or
two or three thicknesses of tight can
vas. Paper is more nearly gastight
than canvas and is to be preferred.
Two gallons, or approximately 20
pounds, of carbon bisulfid to 1000
feet Of space, with the outdoor tenn
perature slightly above 80 degrees at
the beginning of the exposure. proved
a satisfactory dosage in fumigating
The granary heretofore mentioned.
This building, as has been stated, was
not closed tightly at the caves. With
tight storage rooms or granaries, Is
or even 10 pounds of carbon bisulfid
10 each 1000 cubic feet of space is
sufficient With tight barrels or small
approximately gastight bins-one
fluid ounce of the liquid to six cubic
feet of space might be sufficient but
for the fact that the rate CT leakage
is proportionately much greater in
small compartments or containers
than in large ones. In other words,
a barrel or box must be much tighter
in proportion than "a. large granary in
order TO secure equivalent results
with a fumigant at a given dosage
rate. 1t is advisable, therefore, when
fumigating small quantities Of mate
rials in barrels or. boxes to use proper
tionately heavier dosage unless it is
certain that the container is approx
imately gastight One ounce of car
bon bisulfid to two cubic feet of space
should be sufficient with a reasonably
tight container.
Attention has been called to the
fact sat carbon bisulfid gas, when
mixed with air in the right proportion,
is highly ihfamable and explosive. The
same care should be used in handling
carbon bisulfid as is used ordinarily
in handling gasoline. Smoking must
be avoided, and lamps, lanterns,
matches or electric lights must not be
used in building after the exposure
is started. Carbon bisulfid gas is not
a quick acting or violent poison like
hydrocyanic acid gas. but it is ad-
VISIBLE fer the operators to hold the
breath after starting to expose the
liquid until they have reached the
open air A building, bin,. barrel or
box which is being fumigated with
carbon bisulfid or any other poison
GUS gas should be oconspicuously la
beled in order to avoid accidents
After the end of the exposure the
place fumigated should be ventilated
by opening doors or removing covers
The odor of carbon bisulfid will re
main for some hours or even days
after the exposure, but after an hour
or two of ventilation the gas will not
remain in poisonous quantities.
The normal price of carbon bisulfid
in five gallon cans is about 81 a gal
Ion, not counting the freight from the
factory Large quantities are quoted
at the factory in drums at as low as
six cents a pound. Everything CON
sidered, the expense of fumigating
granaries, grain bins and small lots Of
grains and seeds with carbon bisulfid
is insignificant when compared with
the damage which the numerous in
sect pests destructive to grains and
other stored products are capable of
doing.
The United States Department of
Agriculture has published a farmers
bulletin (No. 799) which gives de-
tailed information in regard to the
use of carbon bisulfid as an insect
icide. Any farmer or scotsman who
has suffered lcsses from granary and
seed pests should secure a copy Of
this bulletin. which will be supplied
without expense to anyone who ap-
plies to the United States Department
of Agriculture directly or through his
representative or United States SEN
ator.