164 SOME SOUTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. CHAP. XVIII. 



out of reach of the moths which would otherwise lay eggs in them, 

 a sufficiency of seed can generally be kept ; the potatoes should be 

 picked over frequently, once or twice a month, and all rotten ones 

 rejected. Those which are found to contain larva; of this moth 

 should not of course he simply thrown away, thus enabling the 

 moths to emerge, but should be boiled or buried deep underground 

 under at least two feet of well-beaten earth. 



Bamboos and dry timber ol all sorts are frequently bored by 

 1m . lies of various kinds. Painting or varnishing is usually a 

 sufficient preventive of attack but if the wood is already infected 

 the beetles will bore their way out and continue to do damage. In 

 such cases painting with Kerosine, which should be forced into the 

 holes if possible, and subsequent painting with unboiled linseed 

 oil. will generally cheek the damage. Small articles of furniture, 

 such as chairs, may be fumigated in a large box. Bamboos are 

 often soaked in water before use for building, and the water perhaps 

 removes some of the sugary contents of the wood and thus makes 

 them less attractive to insect pests of this description. 



Grains and stored products, such as are attacked by the insects 

 mentioned above, arc usually intended either for food or for sowing. 

 In the former case it is obviously impossible to treat them with any 

 poisons which would be deleterious to the consumer and in tin 1 

 latter any treatment must not impair the vitality of the seed. These 

 limitations prevent US from making use of any method of treatment 

 which would render these articles permanently secure from insect 

 attack by the use of stomach-poisons and the only methods which 

 we can adopt are (t) temporarj fumigations at such frequent 

 intervals that any insects which may obtain access will be unable 

 to increase sufficiently to cause serious loss, or (2) one temporary 

 fumigation and subsequent storage in receptacles to which the 

 insects cannot obtain access. On a small scale also it is possible 

 to mix a deterrent substance, such as Naphthaline, with the grain 

 in order to keep out insects, the naphthaline being subsequently 

 sieved out and the residue evaporated in the open air; this does 

 not affect either taste or vital ds if all the naphthaline 



is carefully evaporated, fin- naphthaline may be wrapped in pieces 

 of thin cloth for subsequent convenience o1 r< moval. 



If, therefore, grain cannot be protected from access and renewed 

 infection by insects, the only method ol protection is frequent 

 fumigation to prevent the insects breeding and increasing to des- 

 tructive numbers. On a small scale, .is in the ordinar} village and 

 bazaar, grain may be i po • d to the sun instead of being fumigated. 

 When it can be 5ton d in (rooms, special bins, or jars) 



where it will be safe from subsequent infection, one fumigation or 



