28 Appendix. 



tion of the pest ; hot dry air and very cold weather check their ravages, and 

 if exposed to gi-eat heat or cold, they die. 



3. The soft qualities of wheat, especially the soft red qualities, are, as a rule, more 



affected than the hard qualities ; consequently districts producing soft qua- 

 lities are more affected than districts producing hard qualities. 



4. When once weevils appear in wheat, they do not, without tlie use of artificial 



means, become exterminated, but increase more or less according to the quality 

 of the wheat and the temperature of the air as referred to above. 



5. The weevil is found in the open as well as in granaries ; in fact it is, as a rule, 



found to appear in wheat, wherever wheat is exposed to the air, subject to the 

 foregoing conditions. 



6. The wheat weevil is not found in any other grain here, but there is a somewhat 



similar insect found in gram, another in peas, another in mooug, another in 

 rice, and so on. 



7. The only remedies against weevils we have heard of are — 



(a). Putting the wheat, when in a sound dry state, into pits, " bundas, " herme- 

 tically closed to the air. This is the method most generally adopted in 

 our districts, and we have personally seen pits opened after three years 

 and the wheat to be in as fresh and sound a condition as ever. 



(Jj). Putting ashes on the floor of the granary ; and the leaves of the " Neem " 

 tree among the wheat ; these do not seem, however, to have much effect so 

 long as the wheat is exposed to the air. 



{c). Spreading tbe grain out so as to expose the weevils either to the heat of 

 the sun, or to the cold night air in wmter, which kills them. 



(d). We give the following extract from the June number of the Indian Agri- 

 cultural Gazette : — 

 (Here followed Professor Church's memorandum which is given on page 6.) 



8. Some kinds of birds eat weevils, such as sparrows, minas, wagtails. 



An enquiry is about to be started, we believe, by Government on " The 

 insect pests of India, " and the subject of wheat weevils will doubtless 

 receive its share of attention. 



I'rom L, O. Howaed, Esq., Acting JEntomologist, United States Department of Agri- 

 culture Division of Entomology, dated Washington, D. C, loth March 1888. 



In the absence of Prof. Riley I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 

 29th of January, transmitting specimens of a beetle which is injuring grain. The speci- 

 mens arrived safely, and the first glance shows that the species is Calandra oryzce. Clear- 

 ing up and disinfecting the granaries, filling up cracks and crannies and trapping the 

 beetles in rags and wool are all very well as methods of ridding the granary from these 

 creatures. It is, however, considered a very good idea here in America to establish a large 

 " quarantine " bin into which all grain is put after receipt and disinfected by means of a 

 little bisulphide of carbon. It is then removed and stowed away. The bin in question 

 must be made as tight as is possible, and the method of using the bisulphide is to place a 

 pound or so in a shallow vessel on top of the grain. The vapour of this rapidly volatilizing 

 substance is heavier than air and sinks through the mass destroying all contained insects. 

 Care should be taken in its use on account of its extreme inflammability. The airing which 

 the grain will get in removing it from the bin will probably be sufficient to rid it of the 

 odour. This remedy was first proposed by Prof. Eiley in 1879. Hoping that this informa- 

 tion will meet your case. 



GoTerument of India Central Printing Office.— No. 39 R. & A.-15-5.88.— 1,000.— J. D'C. 



