20 



To those who import I would offer one word of advice, first master 

 the machine yourself, and, when you have done that, teach the man 

 to take your place, I find my men take to it readily, it is as safe as a 

 dray in the hands of a man who can guide it, but the machine will 

 always require the occasional eye of the master." — Journal Jamaica 

 Agricultural Society. 



A. H. PINNOCK. 



587- -THE USE OF CARBON BISULPHIDE AS AN 



INSECTICIDE. 



The following information and instructions as to the use of 

 carbon bisulphide as an insecticide are reprinted from a pamphlet pre- 

 pared by Mr. H. H. Cousins. M.A., F.C.S., Government Analytical 

 and Agricultural Chemist. Jamaica, and was published in Agricultural 

 News of December 5th. 1900. 



We may add that an importation of this material has been made 

 for Tobago, and that it has been tried here in every possible way on 

 the " Bachack " or Parasol Ant. and has been found very effective. 



It has also been recently used as an insecticide for Herbarium 

 specimens and books and found to be very effective. To prevent 

 insects returning to the attack in books, it has been found useful to 

 paint the covers inside and out with common turpentine. 



In using the material for Parasol Ants care should always be 

 taken to remember that the attack should be made at the highest 

 point of the nest as the vapour or fumes always fall, and will not be 

 effective if applied at the lower part. There is not the least occa- 

 sion moreover, unless one does it for amusement or mystification, to 

 apply fire to explode the vapour as it is quite effective when simply 

 poured into the holes, and the holes closed with earth or other 

 material. 



An economic way of using the liquid is to saturate a plug of 

 cotton waste and pass this into any orifice the nest may show. 



For borers in Cacao and Coconut trees the application of tin- 

 liquid is very effective. 



Trinidad planters should be grateful to Mr. Cousins for the useful 

 information which he has afforded to the agricultural community. 



"Properties: Carbon bisulphide is a liquid one-fourth heavier 

 than water (specific gravity. L"29). One gallon weighs nearly 13 lb. 

 It is very volatile and evaporates rapidly when exposed to the air. It 

 is highly inflammable. Its vapour when mixed with air is liable to 

 explode when ignited. It boils at 115° F. Its vapour is much heavier 

 than air and always tends to flow downwards." 



" Its vapour possesses a sweetish sim-1 1 when perfectly pure. The 

 commercial article always lias a more or less objectionable odour. It. 

 should not be inhaled in any quantity as it causes dizziness and palpi- 

 tation of the heart. Fresh air is the best treatment incase of a person 

 becoming affected by the vapours." 



