31 



Fig. 8. Method of treating peas in coal-oil barrels, (a) Shows the carbon 

 bisulphide in two pans on the surface of the peas ; (6) shows how the peas are 

 fumigated. (Original.) 



Bug Houses. Many of our large buyers and shippers of peas 

 have specially constructed air-tight chambers, or " bug houses, " in 

 which several hundreds of bags of peas are treated at one time with 

 carbon bisulphide. In some cases, farmers, especially when the pea 

 crop is large, could profitably erect " bug-houses." It is not necessary 

 in all instances to construct a separate building for this purpose. It 

 would be more economical for the farmer to build a compartment in 

 his barn, as it would make tight, clean storage for grain, robes, blan- 

 kets, or other articles, during the portion of the year when it is not 

 used for treating peas. ff^]^ -^ig,^. a-ffect msurr.ne.^. 



A chamber 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 8 feet high is about the 

 right size for treating the season's crop. Besides the siding on the 

 outside of the frame, there should be two thicknesses of dry tongued- 

 and-grooved matched lumber, with building paper between, well 

 nailed on the outside of the fame. The ceiling should also be made 

 in a similar manner. The beams and joists of the building should be 

 so rigid that they will not give in the least when loaded, lest a crack 

 be made in the side, and allow the gas to escape. The floor should be 

 made of two thicknesses of sound, matched, tongued-and-grooved 

 lumber, with building paper between the thicknesses. 



The door-way should have two doors, an inner one not on hinges, 

 but have two handles with which to lift it and put it in place, and an 

 outer one which is hinged. Both of these doors should fit against 

 rubber or felt strips laid on grooves cut in the door-frame. The doors 

 can be wedged tight against the rubber padding by means of three 

 oaken cross bars (at the bottom, middle, ani top) which can be driven 

 like wedges into slots cut in the door-casing. (See Fig. 9.) 



Other Methods of Treating Peas. The method of holding over 

 peas in closed bags or tight boxes for a year is one which has been 

 in operation for many years. The weevils which escape from the 



