14 BEAN. 
In my own experiments (quoted in same Report) I found that, if 
the Bean-seed was placed for a short time to soak, the water passed 
through the thin film of skin of the Bean into the grub-tunnel, and so 
soddened the powdery dust and dirt in which the beetle was lying 
within, that the insect could not free itself, and was killed. If this 
was found to answer on a working seale, it would save the expense of 
chemicals; but there might be damage to the Beans if from any cir- 
cumstances they could not be sown soon after being wetted. 
Keeping Bean-sced shut up until all the weevils have come out and 
died is a method which may be used with our Bean Weevil-attack; but 
is no use against what may be called the U.S.A. kind, in which in 
captivity the successive generations lay eggs, and the maggots feed in 
the Beans till the seed is destroyed. 
Bisulphide of carbon.—The vapour of this is stated (p. 276 of Dr. 
Lintner’s Report previously cited) to be an infallible means of killing 
Bean and Pea Weevil. ‘‘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 for a day or two.”’ The 
heavy vapour is stated to kill all animal life present, without injury to 
the germ or impairment of utility of the Beans as food; only, as the 
vapour is inflammable, precautions must be taken not to bring a light 
near it. The plan has been much used on a large scale by filling a 
building with sacks of Peas, making it air-tight, and then, by means 
of a special apparatus, driving in bisulphide of carbon. This was used 
by Pea-growers in northern New York State in a time of great emer- 
gency to check increase of Pea Weevil, and will be found noticed as 
referred to below.* 
In the above observations I hope it will not be thought I have gone 
into the subject at unreasonable length, as it is in the view of meeting 
a constantly recurring trouble which might be greatly lessened; and 
also entering on the still worse Bean pest which, though there does 
not appear to be the slightest reason to suppose we ever have had it in 
this country, certainly is in one at least of our colonies a serious crop 
evil, and may by possibility some time be imported here. 
* Bulletin 58. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, State Agricultural 
College Association, 1890. ‘Insecticides’ (Bisulphide of Carbon), pp. 8—12. 
