20 
TREATMENT OF SEEDS. 
Many kinds of grain and garden seeds are subject to the attack of — 
insects. Contrary to the claims of many seedsmen, such insects do 
injure the germinating power of the seed. Even if the embryo itself 
escapes attack, which is by no means always the case, the supply of 
reserve food material upon which it depends wholly for its start in 
life is more or less consumed by the pest, and the vitality of the 
young plant is proportionally weakened thereby. The principal seeds 
attacked are corn, wheat, rice, pease, beans, and cowpeas, while 
vegetable seeds suffer more or less. Experiment has not yet shown 
any insecticide equal to carbon bisulphid for the destruction of all these 
seed insects. 
Method of treatment——Seeds designed for treatment with carbon 
bisulphid should be placed in barrels, bins, or rooms, care being 
taken especially to have the receptacle tight around the sides and bot- 
tom. The cubical contents of the receptacle should be computed and 
carbon bisulphid applied at the rate of from 1 to 14 pounds for each 
1,000 cubic feet of space, which is the capacity of a bin or room 10 
feet each way. A barrel will require a larger proportional amount 
unless it is very tight. The liquid is placed on top of the seed in 
shallow pans or soup plates, about a teacupful being placed in each. 
A small bin or barrel may be covered sufliciently tight with heavy 
blankets or oilcloth. The receptacle should be kept tighly closed 
from twenty-four to thirty-six hours with perfect assurance that the 
germinating power of the seed will not be injured. Rye, millet, 
barley, and crimson clover are the most liable to injury and should 
receive the minimum of treatment. 
Fumigation houses——In the large seed-growing districts special 
houses are constructed for this work. The following description of 
the house and the manner of treatment is given by Prof. A. J. Cook:? 
The house is made air-tight; even the door is made very close fitting, and it is made 
still closer by pasting paper over the edges upon closing it, after filling the house with 
sacks of peas. An air-tight flue at one end opens at the very top into the build- 
ing and at the bottom out of doors. A sort of shoot with an adjustable air-tight 
valve is arranged for the turning in of the liquid. The liquid is turned in till the odor 
shows that the vapor is pouring out at the bottom of the flue. Then, of course, the 
air has been all forced out by the vapor, when the valve is closed. It is left closed 
for three days; then the doors are opened, that the vapor may escape, when all the 
weevils will be dead. 
As a rule, seed pests enter the seeds in the field. Treatment is 
therefore most effective if made as soon as possible after harvesting. 

4In Bulletin No. 58, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. 
