161 



which should be air-tight, should remain closed for from 24 to 

 48 hours, according to the condition of the material which is to be 

 fumigated. The greatest care should be exercised in handling 

 carbon-bisulphide, because it is very inflammable and no light or 

 lantern should be used, nor should anyone be smoking while 

 handling it. One pound of carbon-bisulphide is used for every 

 1000 cubic feet of space. Weevily beans or seeds, wormy tobacco, 

 corn, wheat, or meal infested with beetles or moths, household 

 furniture, carpets, furs, anything infested with wood borers or 

 other vermin, can be freed by subjecting these to the fumes of 

 carbon-bisulphide. 



The best method for all forms of insect pests either attached to 

 live plants or crawling about in the packing used in the ship- 

 ments, is the hydrocyanic acid gas fumigation. This is also a 

 very dangerous gas because it kills instantly everything it comes 

 in contact with except plant life. Great care must, however, be 

 taken, even wath plants because if moist they will absorb a cer- 

 tain amount of the gas or cause it to precipitate on the moist 

 spots and burning of the foliage and even of the tender wood 

 will result. However, if the shipment is dry or is allowed to 

 dry no bad effects are experienced. 



Many people are ready to blame the inspector for damaging 

 their plants by fumigation, but if they could see upon arrival 

 the various shipments that are damaged before the inspector 

 touches them they would realize that the greatest damage is done 

 by the careless shipper of plants. We, here in Hawaii, are a 

 long distance from other countries whence shipments of plants 

 are made. H ordered from some point on the Atlantic Coast, for 

 example, w^e can count on a three wrecks' trip. If the necessary 

 precaution is taken to thoroughly ventilate the shipments the 

 plants will arrive in fairly good condition, but if poorly packed, 

 usually too closely, and no ventilation to speak of, then we have 

 a mass of decayed vegetation unrecognizable at times, and worth- 

 less to say the least. In small shipments, by mail from distant 

 points, it is the reverse. The shipper usually sends a few plants 

 packed in a flimsy cardboard box with a little moss which was 

 once moist, about the roots, thinking that he is sending the plants 

 to some nearby town, and upon arrival here the plants are as dry 

 as old bones — absolutely worthless. The inference usually is that 

 they were killed by the inspector here. The science of fumiga- 

 tion has reached such a state that the most delicate fern can be 

 fumigated without turning a leaf, but it is all in knowing how 

 to do it. 



The disinfection of diseased plants, as far as horticultural in- 

 spection e^oes, is not at all satisfactory and generally diseased 

 plants which are more or less worthless, are destroyed. For sus- 

 pected cases of blight or rust on roses, dipping the plants in a 

 strong solution of Bordeaux mixture will insure freeing them 



