Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-13
Controlling WeeviI Damage to Corn

Controlling WeeviI Damage to Corn
Amy farmers who may be interest
ed in preventing weevil damage to
his stored corn will find the follow
ing suggestions offered by Professor
w. e. Breach, of the agricultural en-
cheering division, Georgia State Col
Iege of Agriculture, both helpful and
timely.
Very much weevil damage has
been done already in the field due to
some extent to the larger cotton crop
than usual, thus delaying the gath
ering of corn. Corn should be gath
cred Immediately in dry condition
and placed in as near gas-tight bins
or cribs as it is possible to make.
A crib or bin to be gas-tight should
be double walled; that is, two ply Of
plank laid perpendicular to each 9th
er with building paper or tWo-ply
roofing between the plies. Corn
placed in such bins can easily and
effectively be treated with carbon
disulphide. This fumigant is heavy
liquid that may be purchased at a
drug store from around twenty to
twenty-five cents per pound and
cheaper in larger quantities. This
material is applied to the bin or crib
by pouring out several shallow pans
or bucket lids full and placing them
at five or siX-foot intervals over the
top of the corn heap. 1t may be APP
piled by pouring it out on the corn
as nearly uniformly all over the top
as is possible. It does not damage
the corn either for human or animal
consumption or for seed purposes.
The fumes of carbon diSulphide are
poisonous, and persons and animals
should not inhale them. This applies
only for the first two or three days
after the poison is put out. Extreme
caution should be used also in re-
gard to fire in any form, as u lighted
cigarette, cigar, or pipe will ignite
this gas readily and cause an eXplo-
sion and conflagration. Carbon di-
sulphide should be applied at the
rate of four to five pounds per thou
sand cubic feet of crib space.
Slip -shuck or shucked corn may
be treated little more effectively
and little more economically than
corn with the whole shuck on.
However, If the crib is tight, the
gas from this material, being heavy
and penetrating, will get in it's work
even in Shuck corn. The prime con-
sideration in attempting to treat
corn for weevils is that your bin or
crib be tight. Old cribs may be
made suitable for fumigatinG pur-
poses by laying inside walls as here
tofore set out The floor should also
be constructed in this manner. If
the crib is not ceiled overhead, it
will be a good idea to put in tenn
porary loft overhead in order to pre-
vent free circulation of air or even
currents of air being brought
through the crib over the top of the
corn thus carrying out good deal
Of the fumes of gas before it has
time TO settle into the corn.
Corn should receive two treat
ments: one Immediately after har-
vesting and another about two TO
three weeks later. This is another
consideration that should be borne
in mind: Carbon disulphide does its
best work at a temperature of
around 20 degrees to IS degrees
Fahrenheit. 1t has been found that
at q temperature below 60 degrees.
weevils are not quite so active and
are not killed so readily, but at a
temperature above mentioned or
slightly in excess of that, will kill
practically every one.
These Instructions followed as
nearly as possible, exercising the
precautions mentioned, should save
d great deal of our corn that has
been destroyed by weevils in the
past.