Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-25
WEEV|Ls |NJURE BEANS.
THROUGHOUT THE STATE
State En,olnologist Tells How
TO Detect When Beetles
Are at Work.
Carbon DIsuLpnID DESTROYS
kiln insects. hut Does Not I.Iurc
Food Value or Iicnn.-Cnre should
DE Taken in It's Use, Says Ex-
pert.
By W. }. Schocne.
State t.ntOmologist

BLACkSBCRG, VA, Dec. 2i-Nu-
merous Inquiries as to n method of
treating weevils in beans have been
received by the state cntomologis,.
From information now available. il
appears that the bean wecviIs have
been unusually numerous i'm Viruinia
during the past season. Persons who
have quantities OF dried beans on
hand. either being held for food or
SEED. should examine them to learn
whether or not the seed are infested
Dried beans that have been gath
cred and stored for winter use are
frequently seriously injured by the
bean weevil. Many beans will be
found showing round holes where the
adult weev!ls have emerged Others
VIII have grubs stu at work inside
and In the box or bin will be found
numerous. email brown.sh beetles
about onc-eishth OF an inch long
The beans usually become infested
while growing in the field. or Infcs-
tation may have been carried over
from old beans left in the box from
last seasons crop.
f'umIEntion hest Treatment.
Fumigation with carbon disulphid
is the best treatment and should be
applied at once IL the beams are in
Tested. Small quantities of beans
may he treated by heating to the
temperature of 40 degrees for sew
eral hours In slow oven. The heat
ing does not injure the beans for food.
but would prevent them from ger
minatlng.
Fumigation with carbon disulphid
Is one of the simplest remedies for
weeHils. This can usually be oh
tanned at drug store at about 40
cents per pound. IT is n colorless
liquid tina, vaporiZcs readily. The
fumes, which are poisonous to I'm :
sects. are heavier than air Carbon
disulphid IL like gasoline in that II
is highly inhammablc and that its va
por will explode II fire in any form
is brought near II.
Seeds to be fumigated should be
placed in an alright container This
may be tin pail. wash boiler or
water-tirht barrel. The tighter the
receptacle the better the results.
Carbon disulphid should be used at
the rate of three TO eight pounds for
each 1000 cubic feet Of space.
Use wnter-T1Ght Barrels.
Beans. cowpeas and peas can he
stored and fumigated conveniently in
water-tight barrels. In fumigating.
pour one half cup Of carbon disulphid
on the seeds and then cover the top
of>the barrel with n double thickness
of wrapping piper tied tight around
the top Fumigation with carbon
disulphid to give best results should
be carried on in warm room that
has n temperature of about 20 de-
Srecs.
II used according to the above di-
rections, II will not injure thoroughly
dried seeds for planting nor will II
injure the heans for food. The dis
agreeable odor passes away after the
beans have been aired.
Wecvils do not feed and cause in
jury ut low temperatures. Hence,
many secdsmen have adopted the
practice of holding their bean and
pea seed in cold storage. as this not
only prevents the beetles from feed
ing. but If the low temperatures are
continued for n sufficient period. will
destroy the insects.