276 Forty-fourth Report on the State Museum 



about the middle of July, at which time the insect was but about 

 half-grown. In the experiment a gasoline stove-oven, heated by a 

 kerosene lamp placed underneath, was used. It is thought that the 

 same meaos would be effective with infested newly ripened beans, 

 but probably a somewhat higher temperature would be required. 

 (Seventh Rept. 0. Agr. Exp. St., loo. cit.) 



Kerosene. — A communication to the Country Gentleman, of April 5, 

 1883 (page 277), from a lady in Virginia, states, that in a fit of 

 desperation over a bag of badly infested beans kept for seed, she 

 poured kerosene over them until they were saturated, and laid them 

 aside in the seed drawer for further developments. When they were 

 examined in the spring, a quantity of dead beetles were in the bag 

 which had doubtless been killed by the kerosene, and all of those 

 that remained within the beans were also dead. A test of the beans 

 f >r germination showed in their vigorous growth that they had not 

 been injured by the application. The writer concludes with: "I 

 shall never plant beans again from any source without first applying 

 coal oil, and if all our neighbors will do the same, we may entirely 

 drive the weevil out of the country." This remedy could not be 

 recommended where beans are kept for food. 



Bisulphide of Carbon. — Exposure to the vapor of this volatile liquid, 

 is an infallible means of killing our bean and pea weevils. The 

 infested beans may be put in some tight vessel, box, or bin, with a cup 

 containing bisulphide of carbon upon them, covering up closely, and 

 leaving them for a day or two. The heavy vapor (about two and one- 

 half times heavier than common air) given off will descend and kill 

 all the animal life present, without injury to the germ, or impairment 

 for use as food after suitable exposure to the air. This valuable 

 insecticide — available against a large number of our insect enemies — 

 may be purchased at drug-stores, at the moderate price, by the 

 pound, of about thirty cents. A small quantity of it will suffice. It has 

 been found, in experiments on a large scale made in India for killing 

 the weevils that there infest stored grain quite seriously, that one 

 pound and a half is amply sufficient for use in a ton of grain, provided 

 that the grain is inclosed in tight vessels. As the vapor is quite 

 inflammable, precaution should always be taken not to bring a light 

 in contact with it. 



The sooner that the remedy is applied to the infested beans 'after 

 their ripening and gathering, the greater will be their value for food. 

 As at that early time, the presence of the insect within is not so 

 readily detected, it would be wise, if in all localities where it has 

 obtained a foothold, that examination be made before storing, either 



