CHAPTER XXI 

 FUMIGATION WITH CARBON BISULPHID 



T"!HE fact that carbon bisulphid volatilizes readily, 

 has fumes heavier than air, creates an atmos- 

 phere in -which no animal life can exist, and 

 can be used without injury to edible materials, 

 all combine to make it one of the very best substances 

 for the destruction of certain subterranean insects and 

 other undesirable animals. For killing insect pests in 

 stored grains and other materials in bulk it has no 

 superior. Its vapor will penetrate to the lowermost 

 cracks and crevices in a granery, carrying the death- 

 dealing atmosphere with it. It can be used economic- 

 ally where hydrocyanic acid gas cannot be employed 

 on account of its heavy vapor. 



First use of carbon bisulphid to destroy inseEls. 

 During 1856 and 1857 M. Doyere used carbon bisul- 

 phid as an insecticide. He demonstrated that it could 

 be used to destroy weevils and other pests in corn and 

 barley without injuring the grain either for planting 

 or edible purposes. Since that time it has been used 

 for combatting various insect pests. At first the cost 

 of carbon bisulphid precluded its general use as an 

 insecticide on a very extensive scale. Largely through 

 the efforts and inventive genius of Kdward R. Taylor, 

 a manufacturing chemist, a grade known as " Fuma 

 carbon bisulphid ' ' was placed upon the market a few 

 years ago. It is now the standard for insecticide pur- 



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