JAMATCA. 



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BXJI.TjKTUST 



BOTAIN 



O K T H K 



ClARL 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Vol. V. DECEMBER, 1907. Part 12. 



PRESERVATION OF GRAIN FROM WEEVILS. 



At various times application has been made to Kew for advice 

 in the preservation of grain from the attacks of weevils. As the 

 method suggested in the following correspondence does not seem 

 to be generally known, a selection of papers bearing upon the 

 subject is published. It is obviously a matter of great importance 

 in countries like India, where the grain production is liable to 

 fluctuation from climatic causes from year to year. It may be 

 added that the use of bisulphide of carbon has been found a most 

 effective method of preserving specimens of seeds, &c, in the 

 Kew Museums free from the depredations of insects. 



Memorandum by Prof. A. H. Church, f.r.s., on the Preserva- 

 tion and Drying of Grain. 



The only effective instrument for drying grain is that invented 

 by Mr. W. A. Gibbs, of Gillwell Park, Chingford, Essex. It is 

 called " Gibbs' Patent Tea Dryer," and is suitable for drying corn, 

 coffee, manures, hops, brewers' grains, and fruit. 



The only cheap and perfect application for the prevention of 

 the attacks of weevils upon corn and grain consists in the 

 employment of bisulphide of carbon. f The quantity required, 

 provided the grain is kept in closed vessels, is very minute- 

 not more than if lbs. to each ton of grain — so that is. 6d. is 

 the cost of preserving a ton. The bisulphide leaves no disagree- 

 able taste or smell behind, and the quality of the grain remains 

 unimpaired. When bags are used instead of the iron cylin- 

 ders specially prepared for use in the bisulphide process, the 

 protective influence of this chemical soon ceases, and a fresh 

 application of the bisulphide must be made. In either case the 

 liquid is applied as follows. A ball of tow is tied to a stick of 

 such a length that it can just be plunged into the middle of the 

 vessel containing the grain. The tow receives the charge of 

 bisulphide like a sponge and is then at oner plunged into the sack 

 or cylinder and left there, the mouth being tightly closed. When 



* Extract from Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, R. Gardens, Kew. luly, 1890. 

 I To be obtained from the Chemist, Govt. Laboratory, Kingston, P.O., — 5 lbs. 

 in an iron drum for 5s. Editoi. 



