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There is an unfortunate and, the writer believes, wholly unjustified 
prejudice against steaming tobacco. Experiments carried on by Pro- 
fessor Atkinson in 1885 or 1886 showed that proper steaming will 
destroy this insect in all of its different stages, and the practical expe- 
rience of several tobacco manufacturers, whose establishments have 
been visited by the writer, has indicated the same thing. With this 
knowledge, therefore, barring prejudice, there is no reason why a 
tobacco manufacturer should ever put out any infested tobacco. It 
becomes important, however, to entirely rid his establishment of the 
insect, and here nothing but heroic measures will avail. Taking a 
room at a time, the floor and walls must be thoroughly cleaned, the 
walls whitewashed, and all beams and floor cracks subjected either to 
steaming or to a thorough spraying with kerosene or benzine, great care 
being taken to avoid fire in case the latter substance is used. Ben- 
zine is preferable to kerosene. on account of its greater volatility, in that 
the establishment can be more readily rid of the odor, but it is more 
dangerous on account of its higher inflammability. The beetles are 
quite inclined to fly to the light and to settle about the windows; there- 
fore the window cracks should be especially looked after. Withsucha 
thorough treatment as this, taking room after room, the writer feels sure 
that the insect can be exterminated in almost any tobacco factory. 
Where it is not desired to use steam, experience has shown that, as 
above indicated, bisulphide of carbon may be used to good advantage. 
With leaf tobacco such a fumigation must be very thorough to kill the 
insects embedded in the mass of the leaves. Experiments made in the 
writer’s office with hydrocyanic-acid gas show that it is not to be 
compared in efficiency with bisulphide of carbon for this work. 
While the bisulphide treatment is preferably made in a tight bin, it 
may also be carried on in a tight room. In either case | ounce of the 
liquid should be evaporated for every 624 cubic feet of space, or 1 
pound for every 1,000 cubie feet. Every precaution should be taken, 
however, to see that the room is perfectly tight, and also that no fire 
is allowed to enter the room until after it has been most thoroughly 
aired. The vapor of bisulphide of carbon in confinement is inflam- 
mable and explosive. 
In cigar and cigarette factories much that we have just said will 
be applicable. The tobacco, before use, should be steamed, if possi- 
ble. Loose tobacco should not be left exposed at night. Boxes or 
piles of cigarettes or cigars, after being made, should be covered very 
tightly to prevent the access of the beetles. These precautions are 
more important during May and late August and September than at 
other times of the year, since at these periods the adult insects are 
flying about in great numbers. This statement holds for Virginia 
and Maryland, but for Key West and other Southern points the dates 
will have to be altered. 
As a matter of interest, it may be said that there is a little four- 
winged fly which is parasitic on the cigarette beetle, laying its eggs 
in the larva of the beetle. This parasite is known scientifically as 
Catolaccus anthonomi Ashmead, and has been found in several 
